HARIPUR, April 10: The district council on Monday unanimously approved the revised budget for 2005-6. Nazim Yousaf Ayub Khan had presented the budget in the council on April 7.

Opening debate on the budget, house committee on finance chairman Khushi Mohammad said no new tax had been imposed in the budget.

He said the non-salary budget of the revenue department and technical colleges would be withheld till it was decided whether the departments were devolved ones or not.

He criticized the provincial government’s decision to reduce the share of the district in the Provincial Finance Commission award by Rs40 million. He demanded that since Haripur was one of the biggest revenue generating districts of the province, its share in the PFC award should be enhanced as required under the Local Government Ordinance, 2001.

Saeed Abbasi said allocations for the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), water management programme and Barani area projects should be utilized through the district council and their annual development programmes should be prepared in consultation with council members.

Irshad Khan, Asif Ali Jan, Riaz Khan and Sardar Saleem Khan demanded distribution of unspent funds of development projects among council members.

They also suggested that Rs150 million approved for the Education Sector Reforms should be put on discretion of members.

Iqbal Begum, on a point of order, drew the attention of the council towards development funds proposed to be given to women and members elected on special seats.

She demanded that the volume of funds allocated for women members should be made equal to nazims.

Dr Faiza pointed towards health department’s poor malaria and EPI services and said that despite having huge funds, the standard of services was unsatisfactory.

The district nazim said the budget had been prepared in accordance with recommendations of the council’s finance committee and added that funds would be spent equitably.

He assured the council that in the next budget, maximum funding would be ensured because huge funds were in the pipeline. He, however, said the council should seek new sources of income for the district.

About new transfers and postings in the education department, he warned the provincial government against interfering in the district’s affairs.

“Till the ban on transfers and postings by the district government exists, any order by the provincial government in this regard will not be complied with,” he said. He said any

EDO or staff member found violating the ban would be taken to task.

He said the provincial government was also bound to consult the district government in postings and transfers of officers above grade 17.