ISLAMABAD: The city managers on Friday approved a Rs91.5 billion surplus budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 with a major chunk of the funds allocated for development projects. According to documents, the budget showed a surplus of Rs145.33 million.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board at a meeting approved the budget with a total outlay of Rs9.158 billion. An amount of Rs63.1 billion has been set aside for development works and Rs27.3 billion for non-development expenditure such as salaries and pensions.

The member finance told the board meeting that Rs1,095 million had been earmarked to ensure smooth payment of pay and allowances to the CDA staff working in Metropolitan Corporation’s formations and payment of utility charges.

The budgetary documents showed that CDA’s receipts were estimated at Rs91,730 million. It will get a major chunk of the receipts (Rs40,017.15 million) from the revenue account while Rs12,541.05 million were expected through rental lease of three parking plazas, 64 shops in parking plazas in Blue Area, six petrol pumps, climate change funds and from the metro bus service.

Rs63.1bn set aside for development works and Rs27.3bn for salaries, pensions and other expenditures

Moreover, Rs12,226.10 million are anticipated from development and allied charges, annual ground rent, lease extension charges. An amount of Rs10,700 million is anticipated from scrutiny fee and charges from building and housing control department while Rs4,500 million from property tax and water charges.

The CDA is expecting a revenue of Rs37,196 million from self-financing account with Rs23,550 million estimated from the auction of residential and commercial plots, Rs11,500 from balance receipts of commercial plots and Rs2145 million from balance premium of residential plots besides Rs3,000 million from Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA).

Approving the budget, the board directed the CDA to observe financial discipline.

Meanwhile, the board also took some other decisions that included making rainwater harvesting system mandatory for houses, agro-farms and residential and commercial units of more than four kanals. In this regard, the CDA will help build a rainwater harvesting system for one year after which action will be taken against those who will not establish the rainwater harvesting system.

The meeting approved construction of Orchard Enclave for overseas Pakistanis. The scheme will be built on 1487 kanals. Similarly, construction of smart housing apartments in E-11 for overseas Pakistanis was also approved.

Approval was also given to hire consultants for Serena Chowk, Khayaban-i-Suhrawardi/Convention Centre-Srinagar Highway project and Jinnah Avenue/9th Avenue junction. It decided that payments will not be made to contractors without third party wetting. The board also approved the introduction of health insurance policy for the CDA employees. Under this policy, CDA employees will be also able to get treatment from different private hospitals in the city.

The board approved the adoption of Efficiency and Discipline Rules 2020 and directed that all inquiries should be completed soon. Action will be taken against inquiry officers who do not complete the inquiries within one month.

The meeting also decided to set up a Safari Park in F-9 Park and gave the go-ahead for hiring a consultant for it. Moreover, the establishment of Capital Waste Management Company and hiring of an international consultant for solid waste management system was also approved. The board also approved open balloting for C-14 plots.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2024