MIANWALI, Oct 28: The Mianwali district council annual budget of Rs58.05 million has been presented before the house for approval.

District Naib Nazim Amjad Ali Khan presided over the budget meeting which was held at the local Jinnah Hall.

Syed Iqrar Hussain Shah advocate, the leader of the house, while presenting the budget for 2002 apprised members that it was a non-development budget.

He said the district council would generate Rs34.79 million from its own resources while an additional amount of Rs38.84 million would be needed to fill the deficit.

The government would provide Rs20 million to cover the deficit gap, he said.

In addition, the district government proposed Rs4.3 million taxes in order to meet the budget deficiency.

He said certain taxes were recommended, including the enhancement of hospital fee from Rs2 to Rs5. An amount of Rs0.5 million was expected to be generated under this head, he said.

The leader of the house said Rs0.3 million would be collected from new taxes imposed on tonga, camel and donkey carts at the rate of Rs300, Rs200 and Rs100, respectively.

He clarified tehsil councils would recover these taxes and deposit 15 per cent of the total income with district council funds.

Students of primary, middle, high, higher secondary schools and colleges would also pay Rs5, Rs10, Rs15, Rs20 and Rs25 each, respectively, in taxes. This would earn the district council an additional amount of Rs1.5 million, he said.

Transport and railways would contribute Rs20 million while the health sector Rs0.5 million, he added.