RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Wednesday prepared the annual budget worth Rs2.287 billion for the fiscal year 2022-23 and sent the estimates of development expenditure to the Punjab government for final approval.

The Finance Sub-Committee comprising Finance Department, Planning and Development Department and Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department met under the chairmanship of RDA Director General Tahir Zafar Abbasi to review the annual budget of RDA before sending to governing body and the provincial government.

Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mahmood also attaended the meeting.

During the meeting, the officials said that total outlay of RDA budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 is Rs2.287 billion.

the Punjab government will provide Rs49,506 million for the proposed development schemes from its annual development programme. However, it will be provided to RDA if Punjab government approved this in its annual budget.

RDA included ongoing development schemes including construction of Rawalpindi Ring Road-R3 (38.3 km) main carriageway from Banth (N-5) to Thalian (M-2) worth Rs12,000 million and Provision of LED streetlights for Ward 1 to Ward 6 of Chaklala Cantonment Board, UC-42, UC-75 and UC-78Rawalpindi for which Rs10 million have been allocated .

Under the annual development programme, Rs20 million have been allocated for land acquisition for construction of Rawal Expressway and flood channel, construction work of Rawal Expressway project phase-1 from Katarian to Ammar Chowk.

According to the budget document, Rs300 million have been allocated for remodeling of Katcheri Chowk Rawalpindi, Rs300million for remodeling of Defence Chowk Rawalpindi, Rs20 million for establishment of PMU for Construction of Rawal Expressway Project.

Revenue target for FY 2021-22 was set at Rs433 million and RDA has achieved recovery target for FY 2021-22. Rs395 million have been allocated for non-development expenditures and expenses which include pay, pension salary, electricity, telephone, repair and maintenance fuel, etc., and department has achieved saving of Rs154million in non-development expenditure.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2022