RAWALPINDI, Oct 14: The annual budget of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has been approved at a recently-held meeting, presided over by the then Rawalpindi corps commander, Lt-Gen Jamshaid Gulzar, Dawn has learnt through reliable sources.

According to the sources, the budget shows an annual income of Rs401.846 million. The sources said Rs76.482 million would be spent on various development projects under the annual development programme.

The RCB officials expect to collect Rs40.865 million as rents of various buildings, whereas security deposits and grants to bring Rs52.342 million. Similarly, the sources said, the RCB expected to collect Rs0.871 million as fine amount for violation of various rules and other penalties. Moreover, the RCB would get Rs32.486 million on account of outstanding arrears, the sources said.

The sources said that 38.43 per cent of the budget would be spent on salaries and allowances of the Board employees. They said Rs135.293 million had been allocated for payment of utility bills and for expenditure on fuel and repair and maintenance of Board’s vehicles. The sources further said the RCB was planning to spend Rs34.5 million to improve drainage system in the area.

They said the federal government had promised to provide a special grant of Rs25 million for the development of the areas affected by the recent floods in the Leh nullah.

Director-General Military Lands and Cantonments Maj-Gen Javeed Iqbal also attended the meeting.

The cantonment chief executive officer, Khawaja Iftikhar Mir, and station commander Brig Hamid Khalil briefed the corps commander and the DG ML&Cs about various development projects.