Sialkot district council passes over Rs 5.13 billion tax-free budget

Sialkot district government has passed its tax-free surplus development -oriented budget unanimously for the financial year 2007-08 amounting to more than Rs 5.13 billion.
Presenting the budget in the assembly Sialkot district Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema in house here on Wednesday said that than Rs 2.10 billion, which is 41 percent of the budget would be spent on development programme in the district.
Highlighting the salient features of the budget the District Nazim told the house that education, health, and agriculture sectors were on top on the agenda of the district government. Akmal Cheema disclosed that more than Rs 1.96 billion, which was 67.92 percent of the budget had been set aside for the promotion of education in the district.
Similarly, Rs 39.42 crore for health services and Rs 4.40 crore had been allocated for the development of agriculture sector in the district he added. Akmal Cheema said that Rs 14.82 crore for buildings and means of communication, Rs 51.10 lakh for Forest and Rs 20 lakh had been earmarked for Public Health.
More than Rs 67.82 lakh for Industries, Rs 35 lakh for Labour, and Rs 91.63 lakh had been allocated for Co-operatives in the budget district Nazim informed the house. Akmal Cheema further told the house that more than Rs 5.88 crore had been earmarked for the provision of medicines in government hospitals while Rs 1.64 crore had been allocated for the provision of new machinery in government Allama Iqbal hospital Sialkot.
Muhammad Akmal Cheema disclosed that Rs 50 lakh had been allocated for the promotion of sports activities in the district while Rs 20 lakh were set aside for Emergency Flood Relief Fund in the district.
The District Nazim informed the house that Trauma centre is functioning, modern and standard health services were being provided to the masses at the centre besides, the funds for the repair and construction of government hospitals and dispensaries had been increased. Akmal Cheema vowed that Sialkot district would be converted into a most model district of the Punjab with the active co-operation and support of the masses.