KARACHI, May 1: A balanced budget of Rs7.11 billion of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) for the fiscal 2005-06 was announced on Saturday.

The KWSB budget for the next financial year is higher by Rs1.45 billion as against its current year’s (2004-05) estimated as well as revised budget of Rs6.66 billion.

The KWSB’s anticipated income for the next financial year under the heads of bulk and retail water charges and sewerage charges comes to Rs2,900 million.

Its other receipts include arrears amounting to Rs146.933 million, which is recoverable from the federal, Sindh, local and city governments.

Budget documents show that the KWSB would get Rs3.72 billion under the head of government-aided projects, besides receiving a contribution of Rs338.548 million from the city government.

The KWSB has allocated Rs1,174.385 million under the head of establishment charges, Rs171.351 million for contingencies and Rs1.77 billion for repairs and maintenance expenses.

The break-up of the contingency amount includes Rs50 million for providing medical facilities to its employees; Rs42.742 million for POL for vehicles; Rs25 million for purchasing element chlorine; Rs46.030 million for POL for machineries, etc.

According to budget documents, a huge amount of Rs1.68 billion will be paid to the KESC under the head of electricity charges in the next fiscal.

Though the actual size of the KWSB budget comes to Rs3.38 billion, it has been increased to Rs7.11 billion.