FAISALABAD, Oct 28: The Local Government and Rural Development Department has allowed the local governments to utilize their non-development budgets for development purposes.

LG&RDD Section Officer (budget) Mohammad Fazil through an SOS message informed all district coordination officers and the local governments on Thursday that the non-development budget of the local councils could be utilized for uplift schemes.

The local councils, including the union administrations, have been asked by the government to get a formal approval from their respective houses for utilizing non-development funds for uplift plans.

The notification says: "It is to be informed that your request has been extended by the department, and it is observed that the finance department is making single-line transfers to all local governments, including union administrations. Under the law, the councils concerned are empowered to approve their budgets (development and non-development) according to their priorities."

Now the union administrations can utilize the available funds according to their needs and priorities after seeking an approval from their councils in accordance with the provision of the Punjab Union Administration (Budget) Rules 2003.

Millions of rupees meant for non-development plans had been lying unutilized with different district governments, tehsil municipal administrations and the union councils for the last over three years.

These amounts will be utilized for development schemes after the government instructions.

INJURED: Highwaymen shot at and injured Sher Wattoo when he offered resistance in Chak 598 GB in the Bahlak police jurisdiction.

The injured was admitted to hospital in critical condition.