MULTAN, July 31: The Multan Development Authority (MDA) governing body on Saturday approved its Rs642 million budget and Rs474 million budget for Wasa for the fiscal year 2004-05.

The budget meeting presided over by MDA chairman Mian Faisal Mukhtar also approved Rs275.36 million revised budget of the last fiscal year besides approving revised budget of Wasa, an official release said.

MDA director-general Mumtaz Qureshi, deputy secretary Naveed Ahmad Siddiqui, Wasa MD Chaudhry Aashiq, EDO Finance Dr Muhammad Aslam, MDA director administration and finance Chaudhry Muhammad Anwar and other officials were also present on the occasion.

The MDA raised the per square feet fee of commercial hoardings from Rs50 to Rs100. The meeting, however, softened conditions for shops at Shah Shams commercial centre, reducing security money per shop from Rs100,000 to only Rs50,000 and monthly rent from Rs2,000 to Rs1,000 only. The meeting also decided to give 15 per cent ad-hoc relief to its employees.

The governing body also approved conditions for auction of a mini-bus stand and a petrol pump. It also approved changes in the procedure of recruitment in its service regulations 1980.

The meeting also devised for the first time the channel of promotion for junior clerks, Urdu typist, work supervisors, site inspectors, investigators, estate supervisors, prosecutors, hostel manager, transport officer, deputy director urban planning, deputy director finance and other cadres.

The rent for big functions at Shah Shams park was fixed at Rs5,000 and Rs4,000 in case of small functions.

It also approved a strategy proposed by the Wasa MD for recovering Wasa dues besides approving recovery bye-laws. Recruitment procedure for Wasa was also approved.

A master plan for development of Multan was also approved unanimously by a committee comprising the MDA chairman, director-general, deputy secretary finance and representatives from planning & development and housing and physical departments.-APP