RAWALPINDI, Aug 6: The district government on Friday sought more development funds from the provincial government saying scarcity of money was hindering uplift projects particularly in the backward tehsils of the district.

Acting district Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas made this request at a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. The Nazim requested an early release of additional funds so that development projects in the under-developed areas could be completed in time.

The district gets a share of Rs282.590 million for development according to the Provincial Finance Commission Award. This amount is not enough to meet the development needs of the district.

Rawalpindi stands fourth among the top-share receivers from the provincial pool. The other three districts getting the highest share are Lahore, Faisalabad and Rahimyar Khan. The district has got no resources of its own from where it can get money to finance development projects.

The district government, at the time of presenting the annual budget, had made a similar appeal for the enhancement of its share. On that occasion, the district government had stated: "We request the provincial government to review the Provincial Finance Commission Award and to enhance Rawalpindi district share so that the district government can avoid financial difficulties in the next year."

An official, quoting the acting Nazim, said he had told the chief minister that there were limited resources, but unlimited problems.

The district government is seeking additional funds for enhancing the volume of Annual Development Programme, which covers different uplift projects, implementation of the directives of governor, chief minister and prime minister, completion of unfunded schemes inherited by it at the time of its installation and rehabilitation works in Tehsils Murree, Kotli Sattian and Kahuta, which had been affected by rains and storms.

The chief minister is expected to announce a development package of Rs300 million during his visit to the city on August 12. Most of this money would be spent on constructing underpasses on Murree Road to ease the flow of traffic there.

The chief minister during his earlier visit to the city had also announced a grant of Rs300 million. So far Rs150 million has been released. Most of these projects were in the rural areas of the district.

A handout issued after the meeting said the chief minister discussed the progress of different development projects already underway in the district. The acting Nazim at his meeting with the chief minister was able to extract a grant of Rs8 million for the under-construction trauma centre in Gujar Khan.

Meanwhile, in a separate announcement the district government on Friday announced a ban on entry of trucks and trailers in Murree township on Sundays in view of the heavy rush of visitors at the premier hill resort on the district on weekends. The ban has been imposed under Section 144 and would remain in effect till August 22.