BAHAWALPUR, Feb 20: A Rs3.2 billion tax-free budget for the fiscal year 2005-06 has been presented in the district council meeting. The council will discuss the budget for two days.

Highlighting salient features of the budget, District Nazim Tariq Cheema told reporters on Monday at the Circuit House that Rs1.03 billion and Rs2.07 billion had been allocated for the development and non-development expenditures, respectively.

The district nazim said that out of total development funds, a sum of Rs369.834 million would be spent on the on-going uplift schemes while Rs211.500 million on new development schemes in the district.

He said in the on-going schemes, Rs59 million would be incurred on roads, Rs35 million on water supply and sanitation, Rs60 million on education sector, Rs30 million on health sector and Rs59 million on sports and information.

In the new uplift schemes, he said Rs6 million had been allocated for the special education sector and Rs211 million for the district development programme.

In the health sector, Mr Cheema said the district government would open dialysis units in THQ Hospitals at Ahmedpur East and Hasilpur, where two each machines would be provided.

He said that Rs120 million would be spent on the construction of a dual carriageway of the Fowara Chowk-Karachi Morr Road on which the preliminary work had already been started.

Two new parks at Trust Colony and near Madina Masjid in Model Town would also be developed, he said.

The district government, he said, would also provide funds for the installation of air-conditioning system at the BISE auditorium and the Central Library hall, Bahawalpur.