HYDERABAD, March 6: District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman has directed heads of district government departments to submit their proposals for the 2005-06 budget by March 24 so that it can be evaluated in consultation with the district council's budget committee.

He was presiding over a meeting regarding preparation of the budget at his secretariat here on Saturday.

The nazim said the next district budget would be prepared with 10 to 15 per cent increase in the current budget of Rs4002 million. Therefore, he added, two alternative proposals should be submitted, one with 10 per cent and the other with 15 per cent increase as compared to the current budget to adjust development proposals according to available resources for the new year.

He said after receiving development proposals from district departments, the same would be consolidated by the district government and submitted to the budget committee of the district council to evaluate them and make sector-wise allocations.

Referring to suggestions of National Commission for Human Development representative Kulsoom Bibi, Mr Rafiquzzaman said public representatives would be taken into confidence before finalizing the budget.

He directed officials concerned to submit budget proposals on new guidelines issued by the government.

DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed, EDOs, members of the council's budget committee and other officers attended the meeting. Meanwhile, Mr Rafiquzzaman informed a district food support steering committee meeting at his office that 20,943 of 24,000 registered beneficiaries were provided with financial assistance of Rs1,200 each up to March 4 through the ninth instalment of the Baitul Maal, Hyderabad.

District Baitul Maal in charge Najmuddin Jamali told the meeting that payment of the 9th instalment would be closed on March 10. He advised registered beneficiaries to get their money by March 10. He asked the management of the Hyderabad Post Office to arrange a separate counter at each post office in the district so that the deserving could get financial assistance at their doorsteps.