Peshawar district govt unveils, approves Rs838.201m budget

Major focus put on improving conditions of schools, roads

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar district government on Tuesday unveiled and approved development budget for the session 2015-16 with a total outlay of Rs838.201 million where a major share was allocated for improving the conditions of schools, construction and repair of roads.

District Nazim Muhammad Asim Khan presented the budget in the District Council. Naib Nazim Syed Qasim Ali Shah chaired the session.

The council saw uproar just before the district nazim’s speech when some councillors started criticising the district and town administrations for converting a college into town offices. The protesting councillors were led by Safdar Baghi and Razaullah Khan. They, however, ended the protest on the assurance of the district nazim.

In his budget speech, Asim Khan said that an amount of Rs163.251 million had been allocated for improving the conditions of schools in the district and providing them the facilities. A similar amount - Rs163.251 million - has been allocated for repair and construction of roads, he informed the council.

A total of Rs81.625 million would be provided for basic health units and civil dispensaries. Funds amounting to Rs48.128 million have been allocated for agriculture, Rs81.625 million specified for cleaning drains and providing potable water.

An amount of Rs48.128 was allocated for woman development, and as much amount for sports.Moreover, Rs204.064 million would be released to the union councils as discretionary funds. This amount would be equally disbursed among all the 92 union councils of the district and each union council would get Rs1.113 million.

The district nazim said that he felt proud as he was the first nazim of the district in the local government system implemented during a democratic government.Asim Khan pledged to utilise his authorities for the wellbeing of the people of the district. He urged the councillors to support the district government for restoration of the glory of the city.

The nazim said the district government would focus attention on improvement of the conditions of education and health facilities. He said he would try his best to provide missing facilities to the schools and basic health units.

Asim Khan said that the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, particularly roads, was also a main focus of the district government. He promised to give Peshawar a network of standard roads.The nazim made the pledge to promote agriculture and sports in the district. He said women would not be ignored in the development process.