TIMERGARA, July 7: A Rs1.49 billion budget of Lower Dir for financial year 2007-08 was presented in the district council by District Nazim Ahmad Hassan Khan on Saturday. Convener Zahir Shah Khan presided over the session. Presenting the budget, Hassan Khan said Rs130.5 million had been earmarked for development schemes.

He said the district government was presenting a deficit budget because the provincial financial award had allocated Rs1,168.3 million for employees’ salaries against last year’s Rs1,238.325 million.

He said the district government needed Rs70 million under this head to present a surplus budget. An amount of Rs1.35bn has been set aside for current and non-development expenditure. The nazim said funds were allocated to departments on the basis of their performance.