KARACHI, April 26: The city government will present a Rs42 billion development-oriented budget, its fourth and last, for the next fiscal, 2005-06 before the City Council on April 30. The present first city government came into being on August 1, 2001, in the wake of a new local government system that was introduced in the country following promulgation of the Local Government Ordinance 2001.
A record amount of Rs24 billion, which comes to 56 per cent of the total budget, has been earmarked for undertaking various development works in the city while Rs18 billion has been allocated as non-development expenses.
Sources in the city government said like the previous three years, there will be no new taxes in the next budget as well. The budget would be presented before the City Council for discussion and approval by the City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan.
The size of this budget has been increased by Rs20 billion compared to the first budget of the city government given in 2002-03, which was Rs22 billion. Similarly, it is higher by Rs37 billion as against the last budget of Rs5 billion drawn up by the defunct Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.
It may be mentioned that the city government’s first budget in 2002-03 was Rs22 billion, the second budget in 2003-04 stood at Rs27 billion, the third budget presented in 2004-05 amounted to Rs32 billion, while the size of the next fiscal year’s budget would be Rs42 billion.
Sources in the city government said the Taameer-i-Karachi Programme (TKP), which was an outcome of vigorous efforts by the city government, would continue with the same zeal next year as well.
For this, Rs6 billion had been allocated in the forthcoming budget.
The federal, Sindh and city governments would contribute Rs2 billion each to the TKP fund, to be spent on different schemes in 2005-06, the sources said, adding that the share of important stakeholders of the TKP had not been included in this Rs6 billion earmarked in the city government budget.
UNION COUNCILS: Sources in the city government disclosed that Rs2 billion had been allocated for all city union councils for upliftment projects.
Highlighting the salient features of the city government’s upcoming budget, the sources said a huge amount of Rs1.6 billion had been allocated for constructing a bridge over Malir River to link Shah Faisal Town with Korangi Town.
Besides, Rs420 million had been earmarked for constructing a flyover at Sohrab Goth, which would link Rashid Minhas Road with Shah Waliullah Road. This would help ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic, the sources added.
They said new projects would also be initiated in the ensuing financial year. These include the construction of another flyover at Hassan Square, a city diagnostic centre in front of the Liaquat Memorial Library, a steel bridge at Fresco Chowk, a rehabilitation centre for handicapped people in Malir, and rehabilitation of the Clifton fish aquarium.
FIRE TENDERS: With a view to overcome the shortage of fire tenders in its fire department, the city government has decided to allocate Rs80 million in its next budget for eight more fire tenders.
KATCHI ABADIS: Referring to the plight of inhabitants of katchi abadis, sources said that lease-granting work in the katchi abadis had already been initiated while development works such as construction of roads and provision of other basic amenities would be geared up. A substantial amount had been earmarked in the next budget for the purpose.
KIHD: The city government has also allocated a considerable amount for the Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases (KIHD), being constructed in Federal B’ Area, Block 16.
The first phase of the KIHD had been completed and it would soon become operational, providing complete diagnostic and treatment facilities as well as preventive and rehabilitation facilities including angioplasty and open heart surgery, the sources added.
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