June 26, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 21, 1429

HYDERABAD, June 25: The district government has presented a budget of Rs3.901,526 billion for fiscal 2008-09 against the expenditure of Rs3.901,522 billion with no apparent allocations for women development. District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil presented the document before the Hyderabad District Council, on Wednesday.

There were no usual catcalls from the PPP-backed Awam Dost Panel (ADP) in the backdrop of a reconciliation brought about between the MQM and the PPP. The Haq Parast Group (HPG) greeted the presentation.

Soon after, Convener Zafar Ali Rajput referred it to District Council’s Finance Committee for a debate. The house was adjourned to June 28.

Receipt estimates include Rs66.289 million district government’s share under Octroi and Zila Tax (OZT); Rs365.091 million another OZT-committed grant; Rs39.019 million in revenues; and Rs103.035 million grants under different programmes by federal or provincial governments.

Grants include Rs31.044 million for the National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses; Rs910,436 for Sindh Devolved Social Services Programme; and Rs70.683 million for Sindh Education Reform Programmes.

Receipts for salary and non-salary components are estimated at Rs2357.500 million and Rs302.500 million, respectively.

Some Rs495 million has been allocated for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for new and on-going schemes, while Rs20 million for the public sector schemes.

District Nazim in his speech said that the education sector will get 53.4 per cent of total allocations; followed by 16.5 per cent for health; 3.67 per cent for roads; and 26.83 per cent for schemes and departments.

He said the district government has increased allocation for medicines in government hospitals to Rs70 million from Rs60 million, while earmarking Rs100 million for purchase of equipments and machinery for trauma centre as well as, for hospitals of Paretabad, Latifabad and Lady Dufferin. According to him diabetic centres set-up in government hospitals have produced good results thus allocations for these have been enhanced by Rs1.5 million making total at Rs4 million.

Rural health centres have been allocated Rs28.1 million up by Rs18.1 million from last year’s. Earlier Rs7.5 million were earmarked for provision of Hepatitis injections which now has been doubled to Rs15 million.

In addition, plans are afoot to screen and vaccinate school students against the disease that is taking toll on fast track. Around Rs3 million has been earmarked for establishment of filter plants; Rs4.5 million for children’s hospital; Rs6 million for anti-bacterial campaign, disposal of solid waste, and replacement of damaged water supply lines.

District Nazim has decided to convert 100 more schools into English medium with an allocation of Rs3 million where deserving students would be given syllabus, copies, geometry boxes and uniform, free of cost.

Establishment of Expo Centre on international standards has been planned with an allocation of Rs10 million.

Children working in bangle industry would be provided education opportunity with an amount of Rs2 million assigned to contain child labour by following the International Labour Organisation (ILO) guidelines.

Around Rs12 is apportioned for Sarsabz-o-Khubsoorat Hyd-erabad programme under which plantation would be ensured on roadsides along with beautified roundabouts. Another Rs6.7 million has been allocated for Malkhra and football stadium for promotion of the two sports. An amount of Rs14 million is earmarked to cope with natural calamities.

A special squad to overcome drowning cases would be set-up. Allocations for district public libraries, the CCB schemes, monitoring of private educational institutions, poultry industry, urs celebrations, and installation of hand pumps in rural areas have also been made.