HYDERABAD, July 1: The Matiari district budget 2008-09 with an outlay of Rs1,910.183 million was presented by the District Nazim Syed Mohammad Ali Shah Jamote on Monday. The budget showed a surplus of Rs20 million and without new taxes.

Convenor District Council, Rais Nooral Nizamani presided over the budget session which was attended by senior officers.

The total expenditure is estimated at Rs1,890.183 million, including salary component of Rs657.281 million and non-salary Rs525.519 million.

District Nazim said that an increase of 20 per cent had been effected for development works with an allocation of Rs710 million. He said education, health sector and welfare of women and workers had been focussed in the budget.

He said an amount of Rs69 million will be spent on development schemes identified by the District Council members, Rs3.2 million for promotion of sports, and Rs20 million for construction and repairs of roads, schools and government buildings.

He further said Rs1.5 million had been earmarked for organising Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai fair, Rs200,000 for exhibitions, fair and development of libraries, and Rs5 million in relief to victims of natural calamities and accidents, while Rs210.70 million for CCB schemes.

An amount of Rs297.500 million had been earmarked for Annual Development Plan, while Rs19.889 million under the SDSSP, and Rs266.479 million under the District Development Programme.

District Nazim said development and promotion of education was on top priority for which Rs433.545 million had been allocated, while Rs216.600 million for health.

He said another Rs100 million had been allocated for educational reforms under the Sindh Education Reforms Programme.

District Council members belonging to both treasury and opposition benches unanimously approved the budget.