DERA GHAZI KHAN, Nov 2: Members of the opposition boycotted the proceedings of budget session as a protest against not giving them enough time to discuss the budget for final approval.

An amount of Rs1391.855 million was approved for the district budget and no new tax was levied.

The session was held in the district council hall. District Naib Nazim Javed Iqbal Qaisrani was the convener while district Nazim Jamal Khan Laghari presented the budget.

During presentation, members of the opposition, led by Khawaja Mudassar, raised an objection, insisting they had not been given time for discussion as well as for providing copies before the session to analyze the budget for final approval. They walked out of the house and returned after sometimes when a three-member committee gave assurance that they would be given sufficient time for discussion.

Presenting the budget, district Nazim said the expected income to the district would be Rs155.194 million, including Rs56.087 million of bank account, Rs14.783 million of fixed deposit and Rs84.324 million of expected income, during the current year.

He maintained Rs153.283 million had been allocated for expected expenditure during the year.

An amount of Rs16.617 had been allocated for salaries, Rs4.565 for contingencies, Rs5.827 million for miscellaneous expenditure, Rs66.700 million for payment of taxes and Rs1.911 million for payment of year 2002-2003, he added.

The Nazim continued that an amount of Rs59.574 million would be spent on payments of ongoing projects and previous payments to contractors.

Following sources, including alternate grant of exit goods tax of Rs66.700 million, transitional grant of Rs10 million, taxes and fees of Rs2.563 million, Rs1.480 for tool taxes, Rs3.581 for local rates and rents of defaulted amounts and Rs70.870 million of last year’s balance had been allocated.

Similarly, Rs893.696 million had been allocated for the non-development and Rs344.876 million for development fund in district provincial account.

The Nazim concluded by saying no tax had been levied on the amount.

At the end of the session, a lady member Afeea Khan told newsmen that she had requested the convener for resolution of condolence over Bahawalpur carnage but the convener did not allow her.