ISLAMABAD, Dec 25: The government has decided to spend an additional Rs30 billion during 2004-05 to improve rural roads and other social infrastructure.

Sources told Dawn that initially, 2,000 of the 6,055 union councils in the country would be offered Rs30 billion to help improve social services.

The funds would be used to develop social and physical infrastructure relating to basic health, drinking water, lady health visitors, livestock, literacy and micro-credit services, they said.

A finance ministry official said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had given a "special approval" for spending the funds during the current financial year for social services.

He said Rs6 billion would be separately spent for promoting small businesses.

He said a decision had been taken under which an additional Rs30 billion would be made available every year as part of the Khushhal Pakistan Programme.

Responding to a question, he said National Assembly members would be involved in the programme to monitor development activities but the funds would be allocated to union councils.

The official said technical requirements for releasing the funds were being fulfilled. "But this new money is over and above the overall budget and the current Public Sector Development Programme," he said.

He said the Central Board of Revenue was collecting enough taxes to divert more funds for improving social services.

He said improvement of sewerage system would be one of the main priorities of the union councils.

He said it had been decided that the additional funding would be increased every year.