SHEIKHUPURA, Aug 18: The annual budget of Rs3,047 million was approved for the district government for the year 2002-03.

District Nazim Chaudhry Tawakalullah Virk presented the budget in the district assembly.

He said an amount of Rs852.6 million had been set aside for development schemes while Rs1,062 million for other expenditures, including salaries of government employees. A sum of Rs1,029 million would be spent on the Education Department while Rs271 million on health sector. At least Rs781 million would be spent on the promotion of sports and cultural activities and Rs10 million on the repair of offices and residences of the district government and its officials, he said.

The Nazim said during the current fiscal, three new schemes with an estimated amount of Rs1.48 million would be introduced to boost the agriculture sector. In Safdarabad, a veterinary hospital would be built at a cost of Rs0.47 million. To promote education, literacy centres would be set up in 12 union councils.

To introduce information technology, various schemes had been sent to the Punjab government for the allocation of required funds.