LAHORE, June 27: The Allama Iqbal Town Council on Friday unanimously approved a tax-free surplus budget of Rs165.186 million for the next financial year, allocating Rs800,000 for funding the schemes of every councillor.

The town administration has also allocated Rs1 million for providing house building loans to the employees, Rs2.5 million for providing financial assistance to the widows and Rs1.5 million for the promotion of sports.

Speaking at the budget session of the council held with Naib Nazim Mian Javed Ali in the chair, Town Nazim Sardar Adil Omar said an income of Rs153.08 million was expected during the next fiscal besides a saving of Rs12.1 million on the closure of accounts for the current financial year.

He said the town would be left with a Rs8.832 million surplus at the end of the next financial year after utilizing Rs156.254 million.

He said the town expected a share of Rs18 million from the urban immovable property tax receipts and Rs28.7 million from the Bakkar Mandi fee share. An income of Rs25 million was expected from the tax on transfer of properties and Rs15 million from the fee on sanction of site plans for the construction of buildings.

He said an amount of Rs17.6 million was expected to be collected in the form of slaughter house fee and Rs7 million in the form of licence and permit fee. A fresh survey of businesses in the town could help increase the licence and permit fee proceeds.

The town Nazim said a sum of Rs30.4 million was expected to be spent on payment of salaries to the employees. Non-development expenditure was estimated at Rs28.4 million, It included Rs9 million payable in the form of streetlights bill and Rs5 million to be spent on the purchase of new machinery. A sum of Rs6.9 million would be required for meeting miscellaneous expenditures.

He said the town administration proposed to spend Rs50 million on new projects and Rs12 million on repairs of roads, streets and drains. He said Rs12.5 million had been allocated for development schemes to be completed through public participation in association with the citizen community boards. A sum of Rs15.2 million had been set aside for the payment of dues of the ongoing development works.

AZIZ BHATTI TOWN: The Aziz Bhatti Town Council has approved a tax-free surplus budget of Rs96.871 million for the next financial year, including a Rs30 million annual development programme.

The council decided to pay an honorarium of Rs2,000 per month to special seat councillors and Rs1,000 travelling expenses to all other members for attending every meeting.

Speaking at a council session held here with Naib Nazim Mohammed Ismail Mayo in the chair, town Nazim Chaudhry Mohammed Ashraf said the income during the next fiscal was estimated at Rs92.058 million. A saving of Rs4.81 million from the current financial year’s budget would also be available for utilization during the next fiscal.

He said the town administration proposed to spend Rs43.1939 million on development. A sum of Rs30 million had been allocated for annual development programme, while Rs13.193 million would be set aside for uplift schemes to be executed through citizens community boards with community participation. Ongoing development works would be completed at a cost of Rs8 million, he said.

He said non-development expenditures during the next financial year were estimated at Rs7.1 million.

Meanwhile, councils of three towns in the city district will approve their budgets for the next financial year on Saturday.

The Ravi Town Council will hold its budget session at the Nadir Hall whereas Nishtar Town and Shalimar Town councils will meet at their respective town offices.