HYDERABAD, July 2: District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman on Thursday told a meeting that work orders for development schemes of Rs1.3 million each submitted by union council nazims will be issued on July 25.

The meeting, held at the district nazim's secretariat, was attended by district council members and nazims of different union councils. Mr Rafiquzzaman said the district government had received re-validated amount of Rs140 million of the Annual Development Programme on May 30, 2004, but it was not possible for his government to utilize the whole amount during that fiscal year.

He said Rs60 million of the amount could be technically saved for utilization on development schemes while the remaining fund, which was to be utilized on development schemes of Rs1.3 million each proposed by the union council nazims, lapsed.

However, he assured the nazims that their schemes would be implemented by re-appropriating Rs80 million from savings of the Hyderabad Development Authority. The nazim further said the Sindh government had been approached for re-validating the lapsed amount of Rs80 million as the fund had been released late by the authority concerned.

About release of share of octroi and district tax to the union councils, Mr Rafiquzzaman said the matter had been taken up during a recent meeting with the Sindh governor who had directed the chief secretary to resolve the issue. He expressed the hope that the matter would be resolved on permanent basis.

He proposed the constitution of an accounts committee to inquire into financial matters and ensure transparency in development expenditure. Replying to a question, the nazim said some development schemes had not been included in the ADP as the same had already been included in the Hyderabad Development Package.

He gave an assurance that city entrance roads would be repaired and extended. DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed disclosed that the Sindh government had earmarked Rs1 billion for implementation of the development package of Hyderabad.

He hoped that the amount would soon be released. He said the governor had directed the authority concerned to appoint a project director for the Hyderabad Development Package by Aug 15.