MARDAN/BATTAGRAM: The Mardan and Battagram district councils approved their respective Rs12.97 billion and Rs3.212 billion budgets for the fiscal 2019-20 on Friday.

Fifty-eight out of total 112 members voted in favour of the budget in Mardan council.

Prior to approval of the budget, various proposals and suggestions were presented by the members belonging to both the government and opposition benches.

District nazim Ihtisham Khan Advocate appreciated the proposals and suggestions presented by the members. He said the council made history by passing its fifth straight budget.

He claimed that they would include positive and fruitful suggestions and proposals in the district budget for the sake of prosperity and development of Mardan.

Some members demanded of the district government that five-marla plots should be exempted from district council tax.

Meanwhile, Battagram district nazim Attaur Rehman Khan informed a council meeting that Rs459.688 million had been allocated for district’s annual development plan. He said Rs150.458 million from the previous year’s district ADP would be spent on the ongoing development schemes.

The district nazim said in the annual budget 2019-20, Rs2.382 billion had been allocated for payment of salaries of 87 DDOs, while Rs123.217 million had been allocated for non-salary fund, which also include electricity fund.

The nazim said Rs60 million had been allocated for leave salary fund for retired employees. He said for the year 2019-20, Rs5.610 million had been allocated for district council grant for payment of salary of the district nazim, naib nazim, and meeting other expenses.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2019