RMC session makes revision in budget for 2017-18

Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) Saturday presented a revised budget in a special session chaired by Mayor Sardar Muhammad Naseem. The session was attended by Deputy Mayor Ch. Tariq as well as elected members of the union councils and concerned officials.

The revision in budget of RMC for the year 2017-18 was convened to allocate funds for the payment of pensions to the retired employees of the civic body. Speaking on the occasion, the Rawalpindi mayor told the house that the city district government, Rawalpindi has been paying to the retired employees through its pension funds. However, with the formation of RMC, the existence of city district government has ended. The city district government had transferred amount of pension funds into the RMC account for payment of pensions to the former employees.

The RMC from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018 have paid pensions to its retired employees, which amounts to Rs280.9 millions. However, from January 1, 2017 to June 31, RMC requires 190.5 millions for payment of pensions to former employees of the corporation. In this regard, RMC forwarded a proposal to Secretary Local Government for allocation of grant to it for paying pensions. However, till now no response has been received in this connection.

On the directions of the Punjab Chief Minister, RMC has decided to transfer amount into the Pension Fund Account by curtailing development fund allocated to the civic body for the year 2017-18. In this connection session has been convened to make revision in the RMC budget for the year 2017-18. Following the orders of the Punjab chief minister, RMC has allocated amount of Rs220.5 millions after curtailing development and non developmental expenditures. Besides this in order to enhance funds for developmental works by Rs150 millions revision in budget of the civic body has been made for the year 2017-18.

According to the revision in budget, RMC would generate Rs110.5 million through UIP Tax, Rs10.5 million through tax on transfer of property. Besides this amount of Rs110.5 million would be granted by Punjab government out of which Rs2.5 millions would be distributed among chairman of each union councils for carrying out development works.

Similarly, through General Bus Stand, entry fees amount of Rs20.6 millions would be generated. Moreover, through commercial fees more than Rs220 millions would be earned. Out of the total income to be generated through different sources, amount of Rs220.5 millions have been earmarked for payment of pensions while Rs150 millions for development works. For up-gradation of Pirwadhai General Bus Stand, amount of Rs100 millions have been earmarked. On this chairman of UC 27, Azhar Iqbal rose and demanded curtailing funds allocated for up-gradation of Pirwadhai General Bus Stand.

However, the mayor briefed him that even allocation of Rs100 million for up-gradation of general bus stand is insufficient as lot of work has to be done during its renovation. The funds could exceed further by another Rs1 million or more, he said.

Chairman of UC 40 and former Nazim of TMA, Rawal Town, Rashid Shafique drew the attention of the mayor about notices being issued by WASA to those consumers who are making boring in their houses to get access of water facility. Rashid Shafique told that boring is being done on private basis and there is no concern or authority of Wasa to issue notices to the consumers to stop them from doing so. It is an act of harassment on the part of Wasa, Shafique believed. He demanded of the Mayor to direct Wasa officials from issuing notices to the consumers. After presentation of the revised budget by the mayor, the house members unanimously approved it.