KMC unveils Rs35.5bn budget for 2013-14

KARACHI: Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Wednesday presented its tax free budget, with a total outlay of Rs35.59 billion, for fiscal year 2013-14, Geo News reported.

Administrator Karachi Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi approved the budget under the power, he had got from the Sindh government.

In the next fiscal year, the income has been estimated at Rs35.59 billion, while the expenses are Rs35.49 billion, therefore, the budget is a surplus of Rs101.1 million.

Administrator Hashim Zaidi presented the highlights of budget in a press briefing on Wednesday in Z.A Nizami Hall of Civic Center which was also attended by the Metropolitan Commissioner Matanat Ali Khan, Financial Advisor Khalid Mehmood Shaikh, Director Budget Nasir Mehmood, Director City Council Ghufran Ahmed and other departmental heads.

Administrator Karachi said the budget for next financial year has been prepared with a realistic vision and the allocations of funds were made according to the actual requirement.

Referring to the recent 15 percent increase in the salary of employees, he said the previous increases in the salary and pension of government employees also raised the administrative expenditures and the unchanged OZT share enhanced the financial problems.

Giving the highlights of the budget he said a sum of Rs19,122.545 million was allocated for development projects. The expected revenue of Rs35, 595.034 million included the Rs9,329.877 million Provincial & District ADP & VG Funds from the government. The other revenue resources includes Rs4,760.712million from Recoveries of Local Taxes, LM-I&II, PHS, Estate, Katchi Abadies, PD Orangi, Enforcement, Charged parking & LARP, Rs1,983.064 from dues of KMC and KDA against KESC, Rs1,640.630 from Municipal Utility Charges & Veterinary, I.T & ETC,Rs1,459.229 from Master Plan, RS1,080.450 from Transport & Communication, Rs1,000 from transfer of income from SBCA, Rs992.500 from Enterprise & Investment Promotion, Rs716.450 from Finance & Accounts, Rs630.344 from Engineering, Rs97.600 from Recreation, Culture & Sports, Rs61.750 from Municipal Services, Rs35.388 from KMTC, Rs12.800.

He said top most priority had been given to development works with an allocation of Rs9,565.538 million to engineering department.

The Education Department had been allocated with a handsome amount of Rs2,969.769 million for up gradation of schools and bringing improvement in the standard of education in government schools.

The Transport and Communication sector was allocated a sum of Rs1,140.247 million while a sum of Rs1,448.472million was allocated for development of parks and recreation facilities in the city.