SIALKOT, June 24: The Sialkot District Council on Thursday approved Rs3.19 billion tax-free budget for the year 2004-05 in its budget session presided by convener Arsal Waqar Ghuman.

District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid presented the budget before the House. He said the district government had allocated Rs1.450 billion for the promotion of education and providing better and advanced education facilities to the people.

He said that around Rs312 million had been allocated for the uplift of health sector, Rs73 million for the development of communication facilities, Rs30 million for the promotion of agricultural sector, Rs800 million for various development projects, Rs100 million for providing modern technical education, Rs18 million for forestry, orchards and fisheries uplift and Rs15 million for the welfare of the women.

The District Nazim said that at least Rs112 million had been set aside for the construction of various farm-to-market roads, Rs155 million for district's 122 UCs for the completion of development schemes.

At least Rs147 million had been allocated for providing the buildings and all the missing facilities to Sialkot district's various government educational institutions.

The District Nazim said that no new tax had been levied in the budget. He said that special development funds of Rs383 million had been increased in this budget than the last year's.