LAKKI MARWAT: Lakki Marwat district council on Monday approved the annual development programme with a total outlay of over Rs590 million for the fiscal year 2019-20.

The council met at the district headquarters complex, Tajazai, with naib nazim Haji Arab Khan in the chair. District nazim Iqbal Hussain Advocate was also present.

The naib nazim, who is also convener of the council, shed light on the annual developmental programme, saying that major share amounting to over Rs102 million would go for the uplift schemes in education sector. He said Rs51 million had been set aside for development schemes in health sector, while sports, women development and agriculture sectors would get Rs25 million each. “Under discretionary head Rs270 million will be spent on public welfare projects in different sectors,” he maintained.

Members of the council approved the ADP through show of hands and urged the local government authorities to ensure transparent utilisation of funds. They alleged that uplift funds meant for promotion of sports and women welfare were misused by sports and social welfare departments in the past.

The councillors also blasted the local government authorities and rural development department for ‘receiving’ commissions on contracts of uplift schemes proposed by the district councillors.

Also, the members of Lakki tehsil council and tehsil municipal officer locked horns over holding of council meeting to take up annual developmental programme for approval.

After refusal by TMO Raufullah Khan, tehsil naib nazim Hafiz Asif Salim Advocate convened a meeting of tehsil council to discuss the ADP for the financial year 2019-20. When members along with tehsil naib nazim entered the council’s hall they were astonished to see that the TMA had not made any arrangements for the meeting and even a chair used by tehsil naib nazim to preside over the meetings was also missing. Mr Salim had to sit on the floor during the session.

The council members condemned the TMO for not cooperating with the house and said to propose schemes for current year’s development programme was their due right and they would not let anyone to usurp it.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2019