Sargodha July 7: In the pre-budget session, the district government has decided to curtail the 2002-2003 budget to Rs350 million from Rs462.5 million to avoid deficit of Rs110 million.

The district government has planned to allocate Rs17.5 million for parks and information technology centres in schools in the tehsil.

For the ongoing development schemes, Rs50 million have been allocated while Rs170 million have been proposed to be earmarked for the completion of uplift schemes under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme.

After the abolition of goods exit tax, the Sargodha district will get Rs1,920.021 million, Mianwali district Rs822.670 million, Bhakkar Rs970.518 million and Khushab Rs782.798 million from the Punjab government.

To meet deficit in the fiscal budget, all district governments have to depend on the Punjab government’s special grants besides their share under the Finance Commission Award.

Gambling: The organizers of the three-day funfair at the railway ground have allegedly made it a hot spot for gambling.

Dawn learnt on Sunday that the youth allegedly took maximum interest in gambling.

Religious leaders Maulana Muhammad Akram and Maulana Jamaluddin Fani condemned organizing funfairs and demanded their prohibition.

Maulana Akram warned the organizers that the religious students would annihilate this social malaise by force. He claimed two youths lost in gambling Rs20,000 each which they got after selling ornaments of their sisters. He said the district Nazim had granted permission last month to the company to arrange funfair at Mela Mandi ground. However, he said the Nazim withdrew his permission when he feared gambling.