KARACHI, May 17: The City Council on Wednesday approved a resolution to send the draft of annual budget for 2006-07 to the city government for approval.

Condemning the humiliating attitude of EDO Works with the members of finance committee, the council unanimously demanded disciplinary action against him.

The City Council met under the chairmanship of Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil during which certain members moved a resolution for forwarding the draft of budget 2006-07 to city government for approval.

The chairperson allowed discussion on the resolution during which opposition member Shaikh Mahboobur Rehman spoke about insulting attitude of the EDO Works with finance committee members, who had sought details of pending development schemes and described the same as breach of council’s privilege.

Awam Dost lady member Shamim Mumtaz Wasi said, “We have been fighting with bureaucracy for six years and now they must know about the powers of elected representatives.”

Haq Parast member Asif Siddiqi felicitated the finance committee for presenting the draft budget and demanded inquiry against EDO Works for his insulting attitude with the committee members.

Haq Parast members Imran Ahmed, Abdul Jalil and Abdul Razaq, Abdul Rasheed of Al-Khidmat also condemned the incident and demanded action.

Al-Khidmat member Ramzan Awan demanded one day discussion on water and electricity crisis.

Some members described the budget for health and education as insufficient.

Clarifying the position, Finance Committee Chairperson Itrat Akhtar pointed out that Rs4 million had been allocated in health and education sectors while Rs439 million of Asian Development Bank should also be kept in view.

She said that members on reserved seats could have any major scheme implemented through mutual consultation while for UC nazims the budget allocation had been increased from Rs6.4 million to Rs9.5 million which would speed up the pace of development.—APP