PESHAWAR, July 7: The Peshawar City District government on Monday presented over Rs4.16 billion budget showing a surplus of Rs 220 million for 2003-04.

The revenue estimates, presented before the Peshawar district council by district Nazim Azam Afridi, involved an estimated receipts of Rs1.54 billion from the provincial government for non-developmental expenditure.

No new tax has been introduced under the new budget. However, minor changes have been made in the rates of various fees and taxes recoverable by the district government.

Total expenditures, including development and no-development expenses, have been estimated at over Rs3.94 billion.

The budget session was presided over by convener Dr Iqbal Khalil.

The district government has estimated to raise Rs2.08 billion through its local fund and receipts from the provincial government, including Rs536 million and Rs1,546 million, respectively.

No new development project has been planned for the new financial year during which development funds would be provided only for the on-going development schemes in line with a policy of the provincial government.

Major on-going development projects to be provided funds for execution during 2003-04 include Regi township scheme, widening of Jamrud Road, Khyber Road and Rehman Baba intersection.

Estimated receipts from octroi and district tax have been projected at Rs220 million, while Rs70.6 million is expected to be raised from urban immovable property tax, Rs1.9 million from sugar cane cess, Rs 168 million from other sources.

The district government has projected its opening balance at the start of the new financial year at Rs301 million, including Rs69 million under the head of local fund and Rs231 million on account of receipts received from the provincial government during the last financial year.

In accordance with the current expenditure estimates, major portion of revenue receipts would be diverted towards the social sector.

The education department will receive major share of the budget involving a total outlay of Rs770 million. Whereas, health sector would receive Rs83.3 million, Rs 76.6 million for works and services department, Rs51 million for technical education, Rs19.7 million for public health engineering department, Rs12.2 m for agriculture department, Rs15.3 million for excise and taxation department, Rs 17.1 million for revenue and estate sector and Rs 14.2 million for social welfare department.

City district Nazim Azam Afridi said that the provincial government had adopted certain steps which had affected the district governments’ performance, adding that the situation had forced district Nazims to tender their resignations.

He said that delay in provision of funds by the provincial government had also disturbed the entire city district government’s financial system.

The provincial government, he said, was still withholding Rs60 million under the head of octroi and district tax.

Urging the NWFP government to release the amount immediately, Mr Afridi said that due to certain procedural complications the district government had not been able to utilise Rs71 million, which had been earmarked for various annual development programme schemes.

Appreciating the provincial government for the timely release of Rs60 million collected under the head of urban immovable property tax, he said that the tax’s collection should be handed over to the provincial government, enabling it to enhance its revenue.

He said that the district government was planning to improve the traffic system in the provincial capital, adding that 16 new routes had been proposed to supplement the existing ones.

Stressing upon the provincial government to allocate more funds for beautification of the city, he said that Rs50 million had been earmarked for the rehabilitation of intra-city roads.

He said that the district government was considering to extend the main bus terminal, adding that it had purchased additional land measuring 11 kanals in this regard. The plan, he added, had been approved by the provincial government.

The city district Nazim said that one per cent of the ADP funds had been earmarked for civil defence and fire fighting system would also be improved.

He said that the amount sanctioned by federal government for the NWFP legislators could not be utilized, adding that the Centre had announced Rs5 million for every MNA and MPA.

Calling for better coordination between the parliamentarians and the district government, he said that it was vital for improving the quality of utlisation of funds.

Peshawar, he said, needed bulk water supply schemes to decrease its reliance on tube-wells. In this connection a scheme was under consideration to lay a pipeline from river Kabul to the city.

He said that the district government had increased operational grant for Town-I from Rs5.2 million to Rs20 million to ensure timely payment of utility bills. He said that Town-II and III would get sanitation staff and the concerned department had been directed to create 100 new posts for sanitation staff.