MANSEHRA, July 18: The annual budget of Mansehra district council projected at Rs1,267.784 million for 2002-2003 was presented at the council meeting here on Thursday.

District Nazim, Mohammad Azam Khan Swati, presented the budget, and Naib Nazim Shahzada Mohammad Gustasap Khan presided over the session.

The district Nazim said that Rs210.50 million had been allocated for current expenditures, which include Rs77.283 million of the local funds. He, however, said the salaries of the government employees serving at the district level would be paid by the provincial government.

Azam Swati said that the district government opened its balance with Rs21.817 million as local fund last year, adding that for the current year, the estimated income of the district council was Rs3.230 million.

He said that for non-development expenditure Rs2.452 million had been allocated, and Rs22.418 million were earmarked as development expenditure.

He said that Rs1.80 million would be paid as liabilities of the projects initiated by the previous district council.

Terming the income and expenditure balance unsatisfactory, Azam Swati said that 97 per cent of the revenue of the district council went to the employees’ salaries. He pointed out that during the current year, the district government had proposed some minor taxes, saying that the income generated in this way would be spent on public welfare projects.

About the achievements of the district government, the Nazim pointed out that under the Khushal Pakistan Programme (KKP), the district government received Rs104.818 million out of which Rs24.328 million had been spent on 348 different projects, including construction of buildings, roads, water supply and sanitation schemes and pavement of streets.

Under the Social Action Programme (SAP), the district government received Rs15.626 million, of which Rs4.144 million have been spent on the completion of six different development projects.

He said that for revamping of the primary and basic education programme, the district government has received Rs27.067 million. Of this, Rs16.493 million have been spent on the completion of three major schemes under which furniture has been provided to all the schools of the district, besides construction of classrooms and repairs, he said.