LAKKI MARWAT: Lakki district council unanimously approved the developmental budget for the fiscal year 2016-17 on Monday. The budget session was held in district council hall at the district headquarters complex Tajazai with convener and district naib nazim Haji Arab Khan in the chair. Presenting the budget district, Nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel said that the total outlay of the uplift budget was Rs 334 million wherein Rs 68 million had been earmarked for education sector.
He said that Rs 33 million would go towards health while Rs 50 million would be spent on uplift schemes in agriculture, women development and youth affairs sectors. The district nazim said that as per the guidelines of the provincial government the district government had set aside Rs 183 million for natural disaster and emergency needs.
Taking part in the debate members demanded taking practical measures to ensure implementation on annual developmental programme of previous year. “The further delay in execution of previous year ADP schemes can cause misunderstanding and distance between the local government representatives and residents of their union councils,” they maintained.
They asked the bigwigs of the district government to direct heads of devolved departments to float tenders in newspapers so to pave the way for initiating work on uplift projects. They also asked the district government authorities to formulate a mechanism for transparent and just utilisation of discretionary funds.
The members said that long and short term uplift schemes should be included in the annual development programme. Besides, funds should be allocated for provision and improvement of healthcare facilities in major hospitals in the district. They also demanded of the local government to make allocations in the annual budget for providing financial assistance to the flood affected residents of Kaichi Kamar.
The councilors called for allocation of funds for repairing broken roads and water supply schemes in the district. Winding up the discussion on the developmental budget, the district nazim expressed concern over unjust distribution of financial resources and said that the annual budget of Nowshera, Swabi and some other districts was more than the districts located in southern region of the province.
“We cannot be silent spectators to the deprivations of our people anymore,” he maintained, saying that to spread a net of developmental projects was inevitable to provide basic amenities of life to the local residents. He said that area people would get employment opportunities with the start of uplift works. Besides it would also help improve the law and order situation.
He demanded of the provincial government to increase allocations in education, health, water supply and other sectors so as to enable the local government to meet the needs of people.
