KARACHI, July 3: Sindh Industries and Commerce Minister Rauf Siddiqui has approved Rs139.6 million budget for the Sindh Small Industries Corporation that shows a deficit of Rs30.69 million for the current fiscal year.

The 2008-09 budget stipulates an increase of Rs500 in medical allowance of all employees of grade one to 15. After this rise, the medical allowance of grade one to 15 employees amounts to Rs1,500 a month.

The medical allowance of employees in grade 16 and above will be Rs2,000 a month.

The minister warned all those who have been allotted small industrial plots in corporation’s estate and have not implemented industrial project for last two years would be given an extension of three more months. On expiry of three months period, the allotment of the plots will be cancelled.

The corporation’s board proposed to initiate new schemes for development of handicraft promotion and efforts would be made to introduce Sindh’s handicrafts in international market.

The minister decided to refund the money of those whose name did not appear in balloting of land allotment of Northern Bypass.