LARKANA, June 29: Qambar-Shahdadkot District Nazim Nawab Shabbir Ahmed Chandio on Thursday presented Rs1,529.562 million budget for 2006-07 year. He said that it was 20 per cent enhanced budget in comparison to the last year’s budget.

Convener Atta Hussain Junejo presided over the meeting.

The nazim said that the district had received Rs1486.030 million one-line budget from the Sindh government whereas the opening balance was Rs25.0 million and district tax share was Rs18.532 million.

He said that the lion’s share of budget that stood at Rs1039.071 went to the salary component while the non-salary expenditure was Rs241.203 million.

He said that for development schemes Rs230.756 million had been earmarked and Rs184.600 million would be spent on on-going schemes and Rs34.617 million would be spent on new schemes.

He said that the district would have a surplus amount of Rs18.532 million.

He said that health, education and communication sectors had been given priority and life-saving drugs ARV and ASV had been made available in bulk.

He said that polio had been eradicated from the district to 95 per cent while the Sindh government was approached for providing more ambulances for remote health centres.

He said that an amount of Rs112,884,347 had been earmarked for the health sector, Rs644,730,382 for education and Rs71,453,602 for agriculture and food administration.

He said that for the revenue group of offices an amount of Rs39,708,908 was earmarked while for works and services department an amount of Rs91,557,685 was allocated.

He said that under works and services sector 54 schemes roads and bridges were completed while casualty centres at all seven taluka had been established.

Council members Mohammed Jan Abid, Punhal soomro, Ghulam Mustafa Shaikh, Rahim Bakhsh Bughio, Aijaz Kalhoro, Munir Paichoho, Sattar Shaikh, Saleh Lakho and Mohammed Ali Hakro appreciated the budget.

The council unanimously passed the budget.