July 02, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 27, 1429

JAMSHORO, July 1: The budget of Jamshoro district with an outlay of Rs1,944.089 million was approved within half an hour by majority vote amid protest by opposition members of District Council who tore up the copies, on Monday.

District Nazim Malik Asad Sikandar presented Rs1.751 million surplus budget with no new taxes levied and total expenses envisaged at Rs1,942.338 million.

An amount of Rs7.5 million had been earmarked for repair of roads and schools, Rs54 million for development schemes of council members, Rs600,000 as grant for the Press Club, Rs900,000 for sports, Rs3 million for dowry of poor girls, and Rs3 million for Qalandar Lal Shahbaz Urs.

An amount of Rs1,220.915 million was allocated towards salaries of government employees and sundry expenses, Rs28.807 million will account for salaries of district council employees and other expenses.

An amount of Rs708.122 million had been allocated for ongoing development schemes, Rs44.230 million for new development schemes, and Rs74.218 million for CCB schemes.

District Nazim said the lion’s share had gone towards development and promotion of education and health sector.

He said Rs34.800 million had been set aside for health and education under the SDSSP, while Rs100 million allocated under the Sindh Education Reforms Programme.

Another Rs67.200 million assigned under the NPIW for lining of watercourses, and Rs701 million under the District Development Programme, he said adding, the federal government had approved construction of overhead bridge at Kotri railway crossing and construction of two small dams for water storage and cultivation of tens of thousands of acres of land.

Opposition members demanded debate on the budget when tabled for approval which was declined as the majority approved it.

Opposition members tore up the budget copies and staged a walkout. They included Roshan Buriro, Mohammad Ali Samoon, Yar Mohammad Rind, Syed Ghulam Haji Shah and others.

However, 32 members of the house approved the budget against the opposition of seven.