DERA GHAZI KHAN, July 30: The district council has passed its Rs1.76 billion tax-free budget for 2002-03.

District Nazim presented the budget at a special meeting on Tuesday. He said the government had allocated a sum of Rs485.9 million for development projects and Rs275.682 million for non-development expenditure.

He said a sum of Rs867.557 million would be spent on salaries of 12,192 government employees in the district and Rs1.82 million on education.

Meanwhile, member Shahida Qureshi termed the budget illegal, saying it should be held in June according to rules and regulations. She said allowance or honorarium of member should be allocated in the budget according the section 66 of the budget Ordinance. However, she said no allowance had been allocated for members.

She claimed the authorities have also presented the budget for final recommendations without seeking proposals.