PESHAWAR, June 27: Town Council-I Nazim Shaukat Ali on Wednesday unveiled a surplus budget of Rs450.4 million for the fiscal year 2007-08. An amount of Rs76.1 million was earmarked for development.

The special budget session of the council was held at City District Council Hall with convener Niaz Mohmand in the chair.

Giving details of the expected revenue, the town nazim said that Rs101.9 million would be generated from octroi and other taxes. He expressed the hope that the district government would release Rs90.1 million as operational support fund and the provincial government would grant Rs8.4 million for different development schemes.He said the council would generate Rs111.4 million from its own sources while Rs81.1 million would be collected from Urban Immovable Property taxes. In addition, a special grant of Rs40.4 million is expected to be released by the provincial government soon, besides Rs1 million by the federal government for development works.

Giving an outline of potential expenditures for 2007-08, Shaukat Ali said that Rs450.2 million would be spent on both developmental and non-developmental expenditures, out of which Rs190.9 million had been set aside for services expenditures and Rs10.5 million for pensions. An amount of Rs30.2 million will be spent on non-developmental expenditures.

Out of the Rs76.1 million developmental expenditures, Rs30.5 million would be spent on various plans, including Rs10.7 million on ongoing projects and Rs10.8 million on repair of tube-wells and streetlights, he said. An amount of Rs12.0 million will be paid to Pesco on account of electricity dues while Rs2 million has been set aside for the replacement of rusted water pipes.

The town nazim said that sewerage and sanitation projects would get Rs1.5 million and Rs102 million, respectively.

He said that a dispensary and a primary school would be established in Khan Mast Colony which would cater to the needs of the people of five union councils. An amount of Rs5.7 million has been kept for the vaccination programme.

Mr Shaukat said that Rs70.2 million had been earmarked for the preservation of historical gates and monuments. Moreover, Rs10.2 million has been allocated for the beautification of old historical gardens.

He said that Rs1.5 million would be spent on purchase of vehicles. The town nazim said that an amount of Rs0.5 million had been earmarked for the study tour of members of the council while Rs0.3 million had been allocated for the Haj programme of government officials. The convener adjourned the session till Saturday.