MULTAN, June 27: The district assembly approved Rs7.26 billion budget for the fiscal year 2008-2009 here on Friday.

City District Nazim Mian Faisal Mukhtar presented the budget while assembly convener Syed Wajid Ali Shah presided over the budget session.

The size of the budget is 11 per cent more than that of the last year and the estimate of expenditures is Rs6.47 billion with Rs2.38 billion as development and Rs4.9 billion as non-development expenditures.

The Punjab government will provide Rs3 billion from the PF Grant, Rs500 million from grant in aid, Rs600 million in term of salaries increase, Rs347 million additional grant for the district, Rs185 million for arrears, Rs30 million for new appointments, Rs318 million for salaries, Rs285 million for teachers and Rs100 million for doctors in rural areas under the Health Reforms Program.

At least Rs758 million will be spent on the ongoing development projects, Rs742 million on new uplift projects, Rs334.6 million on CCP schemes, Rs185 million on new CCP schemes, Rs137.4 million on education sector, Rs79.6 million on health sector, Rs10.5 million on agriculture sector, Rs9.1 million on livestock, dairy and fisheries, Rs480 million on the construction of farm to market roads, Rs15 million on parks, Rs241.8 million on the construction of roads and bridges, Rs50 million on the provision of gas and electricity, Rs10 million on water supply schemes, Rs4 million on traffic management, Rs30 million on civil defence and solid waste management, Rs28.4 million on sports, Rs5.7 million on social welfare and Rs39.2 million on the construction of the general bus stand.