GUJRANWALA, Aug 3: The Punjab government declined to approve the budget of district government for fiscal 2002-03 while kept the budget of all tehsil councils for consideration, it is learnt here on Saturday.

According to sources, the district governments and tehsil and union councils were bound to utilize 25 per cent of development funds through ‘citizens community boards’ under the local government ordinance. But, they have failed to constitute boards and allocated not a single rupee for the purpose.

They said the district government was likely to convene a meeting to establish the citizen community board in a few days.

HOUSE RENT: Social security department employees, including paramedical staff, declined to receive their salaries without house rent allowance and threatened that they would go on strike if they were not paid the allowance.

They expressed concern at a meeting held here on Saturday and called the stoppage of allowance unjustified.

They said the Punjab social security commissioner promised them during his visit about two week ago that the issue of their house rent allowance would be resolved within a few days.

They threatened that they would go on complete strike if their allowance was not paid within a few days.

They said the government had allowed new pay scales to its employees while squeezing their salaries by deduction of their house rent allowance.

AIOU ADMISSIONS: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) initiated admissions for fall semester, 2002, from matric to PhD level from Aug 1. The process will continue through the month.

The university, meanwhile, posted regional coordinators at the district headquarters to help candidates.

ACQUITTED: The anti-terrorist court No 2 acquitted on Saturday 65 accused who blocked traffic on the GT Road near Eminabad and pelted stones at police.

The prosecution failed to prove the charges.

The case was registered by Eminabad police in October 2001.