MANSEHRA: The non-development budgets of Mansehra, Kohat and Lakki Marwat for the fiscal year 2016-17 were presented in the respective district councils on Thursday.

In Mansehra, district nazim Said Ghulam presented the Rs7.42 billion budget.

The budget session was held with its convener Murtaza Tanoli in the chair where the district nazim presented the income and expenditure estimates which were approved unanimously by the treasury and opposition councillors.

Levy on excavation of minerals proposed in Mansehra

Mr Ghulam also proposed levy on excavations and transportation of minerals in the district, saying a committee had been set up to finalise legal formalities in this regard.

Giving details, the nazim said that Rs6.49 billon would go to salaries of government employees in the district.

“We have allocated Rs510 million for the development of district,” he said, adding that Rs37.5 million had been earmarked as non-development expenditure. He said that they wanted to promote tourism in the district with the support of federal and provincial governments, which would create employment opportunities for the youth.

He announced that Koh-Behra would be developed for tourism and scholarships would also be provided to students.

In an important development, two allied parties of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, including PPP and JUI-F, moved applications to the convener seeking separation of their seats from the former. “We are no more part of the PTI alliance,” said the movers.

In Kohat, district nazim Maulana Niaz Mohammad presented the non-development budget of over Rs4 billion for the fiscal 2016-17 in the district council on Thursday.

The session was presided over by naib nazim Abdur Rasheed. In the budget, Rs68.67 million have been set aside for salaries of the government departments, Rs547.22 million for payment of electricity bills of the public health and engineering tube wells, Rs27.36 million for petty works, Rs28.62 for the non-salary head and Rs18.92 million for some work in classrooms. A statement issued here said that the provincial financial commission had already sanctioned Rs36.23 million for development projects earlier.

The session was adjourned till Monday when budget would be discussed. The session also offered fateha for the departed soul of former district president of PTI Hamayun Chacha.

In Lakki Marwat, district nazim Ishfaq Ahmad presented over Rs4 billion non-development budget for the fiscal 2016-17 in the district council on Thursday.

The meeting was presided over by naib nazim Arab Khan. Of the total budget, Rs3.71 billion has been set aside for salaries and Rs317 million for no-salary component.

Mr Ahmad said that the revenue department would get Rs456.6 million for its 225 employees, education department Rs2.6 billion for 6,914 employees and health department Rs392.56 million for 1,048 employees.

He said that Rs44.45 million would go for 125 employees of works and services department and Rs293.96 million for 735 employees of the Public Health Engineering Department. The council would meet again on Friday (today).

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016