PESHAWAR: The Peshawar district government on Monday passed the Rs12.48 billion budget for the financial year 2019-20, including development outlay of Rs1.47 billion.

The utilisation of Rs780 million, which makes 55 per cent of the development funds, has been left to the discretion of the city district council.

City district nazim Mohammad Asim Khan presented the budget in the house.

Prior to his speech, acting convener Mubashir Manzoor advocate asked members to approve the budget in the same session saying it is only a salary budget. Not even a whimper was heard from the opposition benches at the proposal.

The revenue estimates presented before the house showed that of the projected Rs12.48 billion revenue, the district would receive Rs11.75 billion from the Provincial Finance Commission Award, Rs630 million from local funds and Rs80 million as the district council grants.

Opposition resents huge discretionary funds, fears they will be squandered

The expenditure estimates showed that Rs10.34 billion have been allocated for current expenditure, Rs80 million for non-development expenditure from district grant, Rs620 million local fund and development outlay of Rs1.47 billion development programme.

The district annual development programme breakdown showed Rs283 million as allocation for education, Rs142 million for health, and Rs212 million for agriculture, women development, youths and sports.

A massive chunk of the ADP amounting to Rs780 million or 55 per cent of development outlay has surprisingly gone to discretionary grants of the district council, which is completing its tenure on Aug 28.

Since the budget books were given to lawmakers after the budget speech, no one had time to open the documents before passing of the budget, which was done by show of hands on a motion from the acting convener.

Opposition leader in the house Syed Zahir advocate later told Dawn that allocating Rs780 million discretionary funds to a council at the tail end of its tenure was illegal.

“It is even goes against the direction of the prime minister, who has been speaking against discretionary funds,” he said.

Mr Zahir suspected that these funds meant for the development of the district would be squandered mercilessly.

However, Mr Asim told Dawn that the allocation conformed to the planning and development guidelines.

“The P&D guidelines allow us to allocate up to 55 per cent funds,” he said.

When asked about how the district council, which is just weeks away from completing its tenure, will use the funds, especially when the government has altogether abolished the district tier for next LG polls, Mr Asim said whosoever replaced the district tier would spend that money.

He said in case of delay in LG elections, the government could appoint an administrator to utilise those funds otherwise the city council, which was to take over after elections, would do so.

In his speech, the nazim highlighted development works carried out in his tenure, while opposition leader Syed Zahir criticised the nazim saying the entire city was destroyed for construction under his watch.

The opposition members demanded the house pass a resolution against the killing of ANP councillor Sartaj Khan.

However, the nazim said the council would do so in its last meeting to be called shortly.

The house observed a minute of silence against the Indian decision to revoke special status of the occupied Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2019