OKARA, Aug 26 All district government departments have been facing a financial crunch for the last four months as the executive district officer-finance (EDO-Finance) has failed to get the budget approved from the Punjab finance secretary, Dawn has learnt.

The district government has yet to get the budget approved for the last three months of fiscal year 2008-09 and the full budget of 2009-10. Other districts have got approved their budgets in June or July.

District Coordination Officer Sohail Shahzad said he had sent the budget document to the secretary twice but it could not be approved for one reason or another.

Dawn learnt the authorities did not approve the budget because of its incomplete documentation.

The discrepancy has affected social sectors such as health and education besides the district administration. In hospitals, ambulances have been parked and generators switched off for the lack of fuel. A 200 kilowatt transformer at the District Headquarters hospital broke down two days ago and the penniless authorities left the patients helpless.

The Water and Power Development Authority has demanded Rs500,000 to replace the transformer. How the hospital authorities cope with the situation is yet to be seen. Pre-service nursing students protested a fortnight ago for suspension of their monthly stipend.

Thirty-six departments working under eight EDOs are suffering on account of non-payment of utility bills and other maintenance expenditures.