KARACHI: Mayor Wasim Akhtar said on Tuesday that Karachi Metropolitan Corporation budget for the next fiscal year would be presented on June 29 and the same would be passed by the council.

Speaking at a meeting held for budget completion, he said a 10 per cent increase announced by the provincial government had been incorporated in the budget, but for that additional funds would be required so that the employees could get their increased salaries.

He deplored that the provincial government did not incorporate even a single scheme suggested by the city’s municipal administration and, therefore, the city was not going to witness any development works next year.

The mayor said that Karachi had already been facing severe issues, and the non-approval of uplift schemes would surely increase its miseries. He said the National Disaster Management Authority and the Meteorological department had issued an urban flooding warning as heavy monsoon rains were expected. “Cleanliness of drains could not be done as the provincial government didn’t release funds for the task despite repeated requests of the KMC,” he added.

The mayor said the KMC did not have resources to clean the drains on its own, urging the provincial government to release funds for the task.

Mr Akhtar said they tried to incorporate schemes directly related to welfare of the people, adding that the people would be provided relief through the Annual Development Programme (ADP).

He said more development schemes were incorporated in next fiscal year’s budget than last year’s. He said the KMC was provided only Rs625 million for the ADP and the department was denied the amount for three quarters by the provincial government that affected the uplift works in Karachi. He said the amount was also allocated for incomplete schemes in the next budget so that they could be completed.

Mr Akhtar also expressed displeasure over deduction by the provincial government in funds for local bodies and said that the third tier of government had already been facing severe issues and the deduction would increase their problems.

He said the KMC did not have funds even to pay the dues of its retired employees. “There is a need for listening to issues of local bodies on an urgent basis,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2020