KARACHI, April 27: For the first time in the history of the metropolis, the city government distributed the draft of Rs31.97 billion budget for the fiscal 2004-05 among members of the City Council on Tuesday.

Earlier, speaking at a press conference at the defunct KMC head office, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan said the draft had been distributed in April according to the new budget laws. He said that the fresh budget was higher by about 15 per cent as against the 2003-04 budget of Rs27.70 billion, terming the proposed budget people-friendly.

He informed that in the 2004-05 budget, Rs15.59 billion had been allocated for development sector, which constituted 49 per cent of the total budget. He recalled that in the 2003-04 budget, the development sector was allocated Rs10.36 billion.

He assured that Tameer-i-Karachi project would be continued by the city government in the next year. He pointed out that not only the city, provincial and federal governments were partners in this project, but a number of other government and semi-government organizations were also involved in it.

The programme, he informed, envisaged major projects for water supply and sewerage, restoration of storm water drains and their cleaning, construction of long-lasting roads, preparation of master plan and arrangements for garbage disposal etc.

For this purpose, the city government had earmarked Rs3 billion out of its share of Rs6 billion for 2004-05. Stressing the role of education in development, the nazim said the city government, in order to ensure availability of quality education to the students, had earmarked Rs5.92 billion, which was higher by 14 per cent as compared to the allocation in the current budget.

He said the city government was trying to bring the standard of public educational institutions to the same level which once was a source of pride for the city. He said that in order to effectively manage these institutions and to improve their syllabi, the city government would spend Rs50 million.

He said that along with education, health too was an important sector and Rs2.55 billion had been proposed for this sector in the next year's budget, which is higher by 18 per cent as compared to that in the previous one.

The nazim said the steps to be taken in the health sector would include the establishment of diagnostic centres in the city and a hospital for specialised diseases, for which Rs20 million had been earmarked.

He recalled that in view of growing incidence of heart diseases, the city government had planned a cardiac hospital and this year also Rs100 million had been earmarked for the purpose.

The nazim told the press that unemployment was another major issue being faced by the government, adding that provision of government jobs was becoming difficult day by day and the city government, realizing the seriousness of this matter had chalked out 'Agro-Industrial Farming Estate project' in the new budget.

Under this project, he explained, farms for fish, dairy and poultry, besides for meat and milk processing, would be initiated, which would help provide 20,000 to 25,000 jobs, besides ensuring the supply of quality milk, meat and other related food items at concessional price to the people.

He informed that Rs150 million had been allocated through the Citizen Community Board for development works, while Rs20 million would be spent on provision of recreational facilities, development of parks and plantation and on pollution control.

He said that development activities would be undertaken at the Safari Park and Zoological Garden, while schemes had also been proposed for improvement of coastal areas and proper lighting facilities.

Mr Khan said that funds had also been earmarked for professional training of government officials. He informed that many projects had been chalked out for attracting investment in the city, in which a number of domestic and foreign investors were showing interest and a number of MoUs had also been signed.

The city nazim said that with foreign investment, the Karachiites would soon feel a positive change, whereby people would get jobs and the city would register economic development. -APP