CHARSADDA: The Charsadda district council on Monday unanimously passed a Rs430 million budget despite a brief ruckus by the opposition members.

However, both the opposition and the treasury benchers, including the district nazim, termed the budgetary allocations as insufficient and demanded of the provincial government to increase the allocations.

The meeting took place at the district council hall with convener Musavir Shah Durrani in the chair and attended by government officials, including the deputy commissioner.

After presenting the budget, district nazim Fahd Riaz Khan told the house that his government was striving to put the district on the path to development. He said the district government would spend about Rs87 million each on education and construction and rehabilitation of roads, Rs43 million each on sanitation and health, Rs21 million each on agriculture, women welfare and sports.

Riaz Khan said Rs109 million had been set aside for the district government’s discretionary funds, adding every district council member would be allocated Rs5.5 million each while those elected on reserved seats would get Rs2 million each.

Mr Riaz said the provincial government would allocate funds for the primary and secondary schools. He said as per the provincial government’s decision two 1,300CC cars would be purchased for the district government.

The district nazim said they were in talks with the railways authorities to set up a Sunday bazaar on the railway land. Earlier, when the budget was put forward for house’s approval, opposition members protested against it.

Opposition leader Qasim Ali demanded a vote count, and when it was done, treasury benches fell short of the required 39 members to pass the budget.

Later, the convener adjourned the session for an hour during which both the opposition and treasury members held talks, after which the budget was unanimously passed.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015