KARACHI, June 26: A Rs32.67 billion development-oriented budget for the year 2004-05 of the city district government was presented in the city council by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Saturday.

The CDGK's revenue for the next financial year has been projected at Rs32,677.91 million as against its total expenditure of Rs32,641.54 million showing a surplus of Rs36.37 million.

It was unprecedented in the history of the city district government of Karachi and the defunct KMC that the budget was approved with an absolute majority by the City Council members on the same day when it was presented in the 255-member house.

Except five members, all those presented in the house supported the budget when Naib Nazim Tariq Hassan, who presided over the budget session, put a resolution seeking budget's approval shortly after the nazim's speech.

City Nazim Naimatullah Khan said that the total expenditure for the 2004-05 reflected an increase of 15 per cent as against the out going year's total budget and 17.92 per cent as compared to the revised estimates of Rs24,374.498 million for the last fiscal.

Terming it a development-oriented budget, the nazim said that a record of over 49 per cent of the total budget had been earmarked for development works which showed that the city district council had emphasised on uplift plans.

According to the budget documents, a record allocation of Rs6,121.71 million has been kept for Services and Works Department besides giving special attention to Taameer-i-Karachi Programme (TKP).

The projects to be undertaken under the TKP include construction of roads, bridges, flyovers, storm water drains, preparation of city's master plan, solid waste management and other development works for which Rs2,500 million have been allocated.

In addition, Rs1,139.20 million have been earmarked for the development works to be carried out in 178 union councils of the Karachi; Rs500 million for water supply and sewerage projects under the TKP; Rs400 million for road repairs at union council and town levels and for construction and renovation of inter-city roads; Rs120 million for the city government roads and repair of footpaths; Rs100 million for roads connecting the towns; Rs50 million for Shahrah-i-Quaideen flyover; Rs50 million for installation of lights on major roads; Rs50 million for construction of underpass near FTC Flyover; Rs40m for flyover and underpass at Hassan Square; Rs30m for FTC right turn flyover; Rs88.50 million for the development projects proposed by women councillors of the city council; Rs25m for industrial farming estate; Rs25 million for construction of Manghopir Road, Rs25 million for flyover at Sohrab Goth; Rs25 million for the Liaquat Flyover's at-grade roads (roads passing beneath and parallel to the flyover) and installation of signals; Rs20 million for installation of lights at Sharea Faisal; Rs20 million for development and construction of Rashid Minhas Road from Gulshan Chowrangi to Sohrab Goth; and Rs18 million have been allocated for dualization of Habib Ebrahim Rehmatullah Road.

The city government earmarked Rs15 million for the construction and repair of storm water drains; Rs15 million for construction of boundary walls at various graveyards, Rs10 million for fire station at Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Rs10 million for construction of safety wall along Lyari Expressway, Rs10 million for construction of road from Gabo Pat to Cape Mountz, Rs13.50 million for projects proposed by minority councillors and Rs13.50 million for the projects proposed by the councillors elected on labour seats.

ADP: About the ADP 2004-2005, which contains an allocation of Rs1,162 million with an increase of 25 per cent above the original allocation of ADP 2003-2004, the nazim said that the priority under the next year's ADP had been assigned to PP&H, health and education as these sectors would consume 91.82 per cent of the total ADP allocation.

HEALTH SECTOR: A total of Rs2,218.98 million have been earmarked for the health sector showing an increase of 18 per cent as compared to the previous fiscal.

In addition, all major hospitals of the CDGK will be equipped with MIRC machines to help provide better health facilities to citizens.

The nazim said that major steps to be taken in this sector included setting up of a cardiac hospital for which Rs100 million had been earmarked, besides City Diagnostic Centre and a hospital for specific diseases would be established for which Rs20 million had been kept aside.

EDUCATION: A record allocation of Rs6,136.03 million (higher by Rs966.72 million from the previous budget) has been made in the fiscal 2004-05 which is 25.5 per cent of total budget.

Naimatullah Khan said that the city government had also planned to establish its own radio and television channels for imparting education and knowledge.

RECREATION: Deploring that Karachi is one of the highly polluted city in the world, the nazim said that 18 model parks would be developed in the city. Work on 11 such parks was going on at a satisfactory pace, he added.

Moreover, it was after 34 years that the Safari Park has been opened to public where lush green environment and the herds of animals like dears, etc. can be seen thronging in their natural habitat, the Nazim said, adding that soon a mono-train and chair lifts will be introduced in the park for the providing better recreational facilities to citizens.

Besides, he said that the Clifton's aquarium would be reconstructed.

SPORTS & CULTURE: Mentioning that there is a dearth of sports facilities for women in the city, he said the women sports complex at Gulshan-i-Iqbal was being improved.

Measures had also been taken to open Atiya Faizi Gallery, Fine Arts Library, exhibition hall in the coming year for which sufficient funds have been earmarked, he added.

TRANSPORT: He said that in addition to 105 air- conditioned and non-air-conditioned, diesel and CNG buses plying in the city, 273 more buses would be introduced to help provide better transport facilities to the citizens.

Over 490 bus stops having waiting sheds, shops, toilets, telephone booths had been planned to be constructed on BOT basis.

In addition, 30 pedestrian bridges would be constructed at various important and major traffic intersections.