‘Discriminatory’ CDGK budget withheld

Over objections of alleged discrimination in allocating development funds for Sindhi, Balochi and Pakhtun-dominated areas in Karachi, the Sindh government has formally withheld the budget of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) for fiscal year 2011-12 in a bid to address the issue, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The budget has been withheld by Sindh Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani over objections that the rural areas of the metropolis comprising non-Urdu speaking dominated localities have been earmarked lesser funds as compared to the strongholds of the former coalition partners of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
Generally, the CDGK budget gets the final go ahead from the Sindh Local Government Department but in the recent past, it was being approved by the MQM leaders, particularly Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad.
Only a few days ago, CDGK Administrator Fazlur Rehman – believed to be backed by the MQM – had, in exercise of powers vested on him by City Council, approved the city government’s tax-free budget worth Rs 70.794 billion for the current financial year, with development and non-development funds cut by 40 and 30 percent, respectively.
Admitting lesser development works in the city during the outgoing fiscal year, the administrator had said that CDGK’s monthly administrative expenditure had risen from Rs 480.70 million to Rs 600.50 million owing to the raise in salaries by 50 percent from the Sindh government and that the Octroi and Zila Tax (OZT) share was not enhanced as required.
However, sources allege that the expenditures of the CDGK had increased as political appointments of the MQM-backed people in various city government departments had put an extra burden on the provincial exchequer. Following this, the CDGK had time and again requested the Sindh government to increase the OZT share but the request was not entertained by the PPP-led Sindh government.
The sources alleged that despite the developmental allocations being reduced by 40 percent, huge funds were allocated for stronghold areas of the MQM, which was sheer injustice with the people living in the rural areas of Karachi.
According to sources, the city’s sole water utility – Karachi Water and Sewerage Board –was allocated at least Rs 26.22515 billion by the city government, despite having its own revenue sources and collection.
Sources further disclosed that the Sindh Local Government Department has instructed the authorities concerned to allocate equal funds for the rural areas too so that developmental projects can also be initiated in these areas.
In the CDGK budget, at least Rs 122.70 million were earmarked for the Karachi Circular Railway project. Besides, heavy allocations were also made for the Landhi-Korangi Cottage Industry, Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases, Cardiac Care Emergency Units, rainwater drainage system, procurement of emergency fire-extinguishing equipments and vehicles and construction of an oil tanker terminal at Zulfikarabad.
Moreover, the allocations were Rs 13.034 billion for Education; Rs 11.898 billion for Works and Services; Rs 5.075 billion for Health; Rs 3 billion for Annual Development Programme (District); Rs 1.946 billion for towns/union councils; Rs 1.5 billion for coordination; Rs 1.333 billion for Revenue; Rs 1.319 billion for Municipal Services; Rs 1.210 billion for debt servicing, pension fund and other miscellaneous expenditures; Rs 563.65 million for Community Development; Rs 384.30 million for Transport and Communication; Rs 347.59 million for Information Technology; Rs 305.85 million for Agriculture; Rs 228.87million for Karachi Mass Transit Cell; Rs 221.47 million for Master Planning; Rs 36.84 million for Enterprise and Investment Promotion Department; and Rs 13.90 million for Literacy. Furthermore, the major developmental schemes included Tameer-e-Karachi Programme for which a sum of Rs 2.6 billion and Rs 950 million for the Citizens Community Board (CDGK Share); Rs 663.23 million for developmental works in Scheme-23, Korangi; Rs 450.00 million for purchase of heavy machinery; Rs 400 million for developmental works in 178 union councils; Rs 180 million for construction and cleaning of storm water drains; Rs 80 million for development of various parks and Rs 100 million for parking plaza construction.