GUJRANWALA, June 30: The district government approved the budget of Rs2.8 billion for the fiscal year 2003-04 at a meeting held here on Monday.

The meeting was presided over by District Naib Nazim Haji Goher Zaman while District Nazim Fiaz Ahmad Chattha presented the budget.

Giving details, the District Nazim said the district council had a balance amount of Rs645.039 million while a sum of Rs2.2 billion had been granted by the provincial government.

He said that Rs590 million had been allocated for development schemes, Rs10 million for miscellaneous schemes, Rs75 million for union councils, Rs12.170 million for uplift schemes of women councillors.

Similarly, he said Rs2.634 million had been earmarked for minority councillors, Rs2.634 million for development schemes of district council members on special seats and Rs182.848 million for community boards.

The provincial government, he said, would provide Rs120 million for the dual carriageway of the GT Road within the city jurisdiction besides the construction of a flyover near Sheranwala Bagh and an underpass in Peoples Colony.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi would announce the package for Gujranwala during his visit to the city on July 6.

Meanwhile, the opposition members criticized the budget and tabled various proposals which were rejected by the treasury benches.