FAISALABAD, July 17: The City District Government has been facing problems in preparing final draft of the budget document for the 2006-07 due to paucity of funds.

The local council, since getting the status of City District Government, has been in severe financial crisis and it announced the outgoing year’s budget with a Rs860 million special grant from the president to pay off its liabilities. But, after the passage of over six months, this amount could not be released to the local government and its managers were in deep trouble to prepare the budget for the year 2006-07.

Sources said on Monday that the Punjab chief minister had promised to provide Rs250 million for the uplift of the district, especially for the replacement of water supply lines after break out of gastroenteritis in Ghulam Muhammadabad. However, only Rs35 million have so far been provided while there were doubts about the remaining amount.

“At present, the financial managers are giving final touches to the budget document with an outlay of over Rs3 billion,” sources added.

The City District Government Faisalabad had failed to present the annual budget despite the passage of 16 days after June 30 deadline due to shortage of funds. However, the budget session has been called for July 18.

The members in recent meetings had openly said that bureaucracy was creating hurdles in the working of nazim Rana Zahid Tauseef as he was elected on the ticket of opposition but later joined the ruling coalition.