BAHAWALNAGAR, June 30: The district council on Friday adopted its annual budget of Rs3.67 billion for the year 2006-2007.

The budget session was held at the Jinnah Hall with naib nazim Ahmad Zia Malik in the chair. Presenting the budget, district nazim Mumtaz Ahmad Matiana said Rs1.37 billion had been earmarked for development projects, including a district development fund of Rs580 million.

He said Rs88 million had been set aside for ongoing projects and Rs437 million for new projects.

He said Rs2.30 billion had been allocated for salaries, allowances and other district government employees’ expenses. Rs14.5 million had been provided under the national programme for repair of watercourses and Rs40 million for education sector reforms.

The nazim said Rs140 million had been earmarked for Citizen Community Board projects, Rs1.8 million for special students education, Rs96.8 million for the purchase of medicines and Rs2.3 million for X-ray films for hospitals, and Rs10.7 million for animal husbandry medicines.

He said Rs13 million had been allocated for the repair of rural and urban schools and Rs45 million for roads.