HYDERABAD Hyderabad District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil presented a balanced budget of Rs5.3 billion of the district government on Sunday, with emphasis on basic health issues and generation of solar energy for street lights and government offices.
The budget has been referred to the council's finance committee for scrutiny which would submit its report before the house on Tuesday.
It can also be described as a surplus budget of Rs1,000.
Against the total outlay, the expenditure was at Rs5.3 billion with an opening balance of Rs188.599.
An amount of Rs3.95 billion was the single transfer of funds from the Sindh government, besides Rs12.384 million as OZT (octroi zila tax) share of district government. Revised estimates of 2008-09 are calculated at Rs3.96 billion.
The district government hopes to get Rs649 million, including Rs320 million as committed by President Asif Ali Zardari to district nazim who complained to him that in 2007-08, the Sindh government released only Rs3.2 billion which was less than releases given to other districts.
The Sindh government made deductions in 2007-208 (Rs160 million) and 2008-09 (Rs169 million) so Rs329 million are committed funds against the Sindh government to be spent in education and health sectors.
The salary and non-salary components have respective allocations of Rs3.19 billion and Rs902.490 million. An amount of Rs695 million is allocated under the Annual Development Plan with a new expenditure of Rs80 million.
The district nazim informed that Rs2.91 billion were allocated for education sectors with salary, non-salary, maintenance and repair and other schemes. Its 54.89 per cent of total budgetary allocations with 1.49 per cent raise whereas health sector would have allocations of Rs1.05 billion under same heads - 19.94 per cent of total budget with 3.44 raise from previous year. Road sector has allocation of Rs897.385 million.
Some of the very basic health issues that have been touched in the budget were reflective of vision of the district nazim, who plans to establish diabetic centres in taluka hospitals with free laboratory tests and provision of drugs. Thirty-four such centres were already working and this year 31 more would be opened, he added.
He said the district government intended to set-up district central diabetic centre, for the first time, in collaboration with NGOs. Therefore, an allocation of Rs10 million had been made for the purpose. Health sector has allocations for hepatitis treatment and its related test of PCR (polymerase chain reaction). 'The district government is planning Thalassaemia test of unmarried persons to check spread of this disease for which Rs10 million are being allocated,' he said.
With an allocation of Rs10 million, the district government plans to introduce mobile clinics and operation theatres for rural population of Hyderabad's all four talukas so that minor operations could be done at doorstep of people.
Likewise, Rs5 million are earmarked for paralysed people who would be registered and treated under supervision of neuro physicians and physiotherapists.
Funds are earmarked for other important health issues like breast cancer (Rs2m), orthopaedic hospital' establishment (Rs20m), artificial organs' provision, kidney transplantation/ dialysis (Rs30m), school health programme (Rs5m), drugs addicts' rehabilitation (Rs5m), anti-dengue/malaria campaign (Rs3m), setting-up of filter plants in hospitals.
Out of Rs695m ADP 2009-10, one new scheme of physical planning and housing, 34 of road, five of education and three of health would be executed. An amount of Rs595 is earmarked for ongoing schemes of the ADP.
For education sector, the district nazim said revival of quality education in schools was a top priority. An amount of Rs352.25 million would be spent on repair and maintenance of school buildings; Rs24.65 million for computer and science laboratories' construction with a 500 per cent raise from previous year; allocations are also there for 300 English medium schools set-up last year; restoration of library culture with Rs7 million after establishment of Hasrat Mohani district central library, etc.
The district nazim said the 'Green Hyderabad' programme had allocation of Rs20m while for eventualities and natural calamities Rs10m were earmarked.
He said promotion of sports activities, flower exhibition, Hyderabad festival, restoration cultural heritage, vocational training institute, traffic support task force, civil defence body have been given due care in budgetary estimates.
He said Rs21 million were earmarked for the Expo Centre, foundation of which was laid last year by the district government.
He said that to combat energy crisis, the district government wanted to generate power through solar energy for electricity provision to street lights and governments, in the first phase with an allocation of Rs5m.
He said sewage would be used for plantation and parks to ensure water conservation. For land acquisition purpose, Rs20m were allocated and Rs2m were earmarked for protecting poultry and cattle from disease, he said.
