TIMERGARA, July 16: The district council of Lower Dir unanimously approved a Rs1.49 billion budget for the year 2007-08 here on Monday. District Nazim Ahmad Hassan Khan appreciated the budgetary proposals put forth by the members and said the budget was prepared in the light of the councillors’ suggestions and demands.

For the first time in the history of the district, the women councillors were allowed to take part in the council’s proceedings.

The budget session, which was presided over by the convener of the council, Zahir Shah, was also attended by heads of various district government departments.

During the session, a prominent women’s rights activist, Mrs Shad Begum, said the Rs2,000-per-month honoraria announced by the council for women and minority members was not enough.

She termed the budget disappointing. She said the allocation of Rs 50,000 under the ADP for women councillors could not cover the development needs of their areas. She demanded that the amount should be raised to Rs150,000.

Taking part in the discussion, Nazim of Union Council Koto Alam Zeb advocate said the budget was not a balanced one, adding that a deficit budget had been presented for the district for the first time.

He supported the women councillors’ demands and said their honoraria should be increased.