KARACHI, June 29: The City District Council Karachi on Thursday passed the Rs44.21 billion budget for 2006-07 fiscal for City Government amid a walkout by opposition members protesting against rejection of their suggestions.

The budget, described by the treasury members as development-oriented, was presented by City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on June 22 and a heated debate took place for five days on both sides of the house.

Unlike Wednesday’s marathon session which started at 3.30pm and continued till 12pm, the Thursday’s session was brief as it started at 3.30pm and concluded at 4.15pm.

At the outset of Thursday’s proceedings, City Niab Nazim Nasreen Jalil asked the chairperson of Finance, Planning & Development Committee, Itrat Akhtar, to submit the 2006-07 budget resolution in the house for approval.

The chairperson made a brief speech and highlighted the important provisions of the budget, saying the budget was prepared keeping in view the development needs of the city and it reflected the aspirations of the people.

Quoting various budget figures, she maintained that peoples’ problems were fully addressed in the budget as sufficient funds had been allocated in education and health sectors and to bring about an improvement in civic facilities, including water and sewerage and road facilities in Karachi.

She urged the opposition to cooperate with the City Government and to shun the opposition for the sake of opposition.

The chairperson dispelled the impression that the budget was prepared in violation of the budget rules. She rejected the objections raised by the opposition members. After her speech, resolutions were moved in the house.

A resolution was related to removal of disparity by enhancing the house rent of defunct KMC employees up to 65 per cent and medical facilities to be provided exactly the same as was available to defunct KDA, KBCA and KWSB employees. The house also approved another resolution by a majority vote restoring the post of District Officer (Parks & Horticulture).

The house also adopted a resolution enhancing the salaries of kundimen from Rs5000 to Rs10,000 and in case of death during employment Rs 50 lakh would be provided to heirs of the deceased.

The opposition members, including Saeed Ghani (Awam Dost Gourp) and Rafique Ahmed (Al-Khidmat Group), said they wanted to submit their objections on these resolutions.

The chair pointed to the opposition that all these three resolutions were part of the budget provisions and since both sides had been amply submitting their views for the last five days on the budget, there was no need for further debate. On this occasion, the members wanted to move a resolution but they were not allowed.

On this occasion, the opposition members made a token walkout and returned to the house in a short while.

However, when the chair tabled the budget resolution for approval, the opposition members once again staged a walkout. The house passed the budget by a majority vote and it was adjourned by the chair.