KMC ups the ante on delusional numbers

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed on Thursday presented a tax-free budget of the KMC worth Rs 31.62 billion showing expected revenue estimates during 2012-13 to be Rs 31,629.14 million and expenditures estimates to be Rs 31,529.16 million with a surplus of Rs 99.98 million.
The budget gave the most priority to development work with an allocation of Rs 9,167.34 million to the engineering department. Another huge portion of Rs 3,974.64 million set was aside for the health sector to provide better facilities to citizens in KMC-run hospitals and dispensaries, according to a statement issued by the KMC. Education had been allocated a handsome amount of Rs 2,754.73 million to upgrade schools and to improve the standard of education in government schools.
A total Rs 2,167.13 million had been set aside in the budget for provision of uninterrupted municipal services to the citizens of Karachi. The transport and communication sector was allocated a sum of Rs 1,624.08 million while a sum of Rs 1,067.13 million was allocated for the development of parks and recreation facilities in the city. Other major allocations in the budget include Rs 680.37 million for the information technology sector and Rs 584.06 million for the KMC Sports and Recreation Department.
A sum of Rs 4,928.30 million was shown as expected revenue in the budget from various departments including local taxes, estate, katchi abadis, Orangi projects, charged parking and land department whereas an amount of Rs 12,800 million would be received by KMC from the government as Octroi Matching Grant and Rs 3,000 million under the head of District ADP.
The other major expected sources of income include Rs 2,105.44 million from Master Plan Department, Rs 1,147.25 million from Engineering Department, Rs 1,648.08 million from Municipal Utility Charges and Veterinary Department, Rs 1,080.65 million from Transport and Communication Department and Rs 18 million from Municipal Services.
Many important development projects have been planned in the next fiscal year for which allocations were made in the KMC budget. These include Rs 850 million for the Karachi Circular Railway Project, Rs 777.52 million for the development of different roads, bridges and roundabouts.
A total amount of Rs 750 million has been allocated for construction of a car parking plaza at Shahabuddin Market, Rs 500 million for the Bus Rapid Transport Project, Rs 500 million for improvement of graveyards, Rs 500 million for purchase of heavy machinery and equipment and Rs 423 million for the development of parks.
Rs 400 million have been allocated for the rehabilitation of inter-city and union council roads, Rs 400 million for wireless video surveillance system phase-II, Rs 380.99 million for purchase of equipment and machinery for hospitals and Rs 350 million for construction of roads, roundabouts and culverts.
A sum of Rs 348 million has been allocated for the development of Karachi Medical and Dental College, Rs 250 million for the development of Orangi and Landhi Cottage Industrial Zones, Rs 74.51 million for repairs and improvement of 5000 Road Nagan Chowrangi to Sakhi Hasan and Nagan Chowrangi to Surjani Roundabout.
An allocation of total Rs 50 million has been made for the construction of storm water drains and Rs 30 million for the Karachi Mass Transit Project. A total of 85 major projects would be carried out under ADP with a cost of Rs 3750 million whereas 36 small and big projects would also be completed under ADP with a cost of Rs 380 million. Presenting the budget for next fiscal year 2012-13, Syed said that the budget had been prepared in the light of SLGO 1979 to turn Karachi into a well developed and organized city. He said that no new tax was levied in the budget and the recovery of taxes during 2012-13 would be guaranteed so that the journey of progress and development could continue.