VEHARI, June 19: The district council on Saturday approved a tax-free budget of Rs2,937.859 million (Rs2.93 billion) for the financial year 2005-6. Giving details, District Nazim Mumtaz Khan Khichi said Rs429 million would be spent on development projects and Rs2.5 billion on non-development expenditure, including salaries of government employees.

He claimed that the Punjab government would provide a grant of Rs2.75 billion to the district government. He said Rs90 million had been set aside for roads and Rs60 million for the ongoing schemes in the district.

The nazim said Rs50 million would be given to union councils. He said Rs45 million had been allocated for electrification schemes and Rs30 million for schools buildings. He said the district government had earmarked Rs30 million for DHQ and THQ hospitals.

Mr Khichi said the district government would set up a human resource development centre at the DCO office for training government employees.

On this occasion, opposition members, including Chaudhry Mumtaz Wattoo, Jawad Masood Ghuman, Shaila Aslam, Lubna Ehtesham and others criticized the district government for ignoring their areas during the last four years. Some opposition members criticized the police’s alleged misbehaviour with citizens.