PESHAWAR: Amid boycott by the opposition members, the district council, Peshawar, on Tuesday passed its development budget having a total outlay of Rs838.2 million for the ongoing fiscal year (2015-16).

District nazim Mohammad Asim Khan presented the development budget in the district council that was passed only by members of the ruling parties as the opposition staged a boycott over its abrupt passage without any debate. The opposition members repeatedly sought time for studying the budget documents and debate. Without debating, they said, the passage of budget was undemocratic.

A big chunk of the district development budget has been earmarked for improving the condition of educational institutions and construction and repair of roads. District naib nazim Syed Qasim Ali Shah chaired the district council meeting.

Before start of the budget speech, the opposition members Safdar Baghi of Awami national party and Razaullah Chagharmati of Pakistan Peoples Party criticised the district government for establishing town offices in a college. However, they ended their protest on the assurance of the district nazim.

Rs163.25 million each allocated for improving condition of schools and roads

Presenting the development budget, Asim Khan said that Rs163.251 million had been allocated for improving the condition of schools in the district and provision of missing facilities there. An equal amount – Rs163.251 million – has been allocated for repair and construction of roads.

He said that Rs81.625 million would be spent on basic health units and civil dispensaries. He said that another Rs81.625 had been allocated for cleanliness of drains and providing drinking water, while Rs48.128 million were earmarked for agriculture sector.

Women development and sports also got Rs48.128 million each. Moreover, Rs204.064 million would be released to the wards as discretionary funds. This amount would be equally disbursed among all the 92 wards and each ward would get Rs1.11 million.

When the chair put the development budget to vote, the opposition members belonging to the ANP, PPP, PML-N and JUI-F boycotted the session in protest against passage of the budget without any debate. Later, in the absence of the opposition members, the councillors of the ruling parties, including PTI and JI, participated in the voting.

Speaking on the floor of the house, the district nazim promised to work with full dedication for the well-being of people. He urged the councillors to support the district government in its efforts to restore the glory of Peshawar city.

Asim Khan said that he would make his all-out efforts for improving condition of the educational institutions and health facilities. He said that they would try their best to ensure provision of all facilities in the schools and basic health units. He said that they would spread a network of roads in the city.

He also pledged to promote agriculture and sports in the district. He said that they would also include women in the development process and funds would be spent on women development.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2015