The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Wednesday unveiled a surplus budget of Rs 35595.034 million for the fiscal year 2013-14 showing expected revenue of Rs 35,595.034 million and expenditures estimated at Rs 35,493.866 million with a surplus of Rs 101.168 million.
Administrator Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi presented highlights of the budget at a press briefing at ZA 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.
The administrator said the budget for next financial year had been prepared with a realistic vision and the allocations of funds were made according to the actual requirement.
He said only the actual revenue targets were taken into account and all possible efforts were made to keep the balance between the revenue and expenditures so that gradual financial stability could be ensured in the KMC. The unnecessary expenditures were curtailed and the policy of enhancement in the revenue sources had been adopted to carry out development works speedily.
Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi said the population of Karachi had crossed 20 million and its progress was directly linked to the overall progress of the country.
He said the challenges facing the city were increasing and this situation was affecting its basic infrastructure. Referring to the recent 15 percent increase in the salary of employees, he said previous increase in the salary and pension of government employees also raised the administrative expenditures and the unchanged OZT share enhanced the financial problems.
Zaidi said despite having limited resources, they tried to make justifiable allocations in the budget for next fiscal year so that the journey of development in Karachi and the public service could be carried on.
Giving highlights of the budget, he said a sum of Rs 19,122.545 million was allocated for development projects. The expected revenue of Rs 35,595.034 million included the Rs 9,329.877 million for provincial & district ADP & VG funds from the government. The other revenue resources include Rs 4,760.712 million from recoveries of local taxes, LM-I&II, PHS, Estate, Katchi Abadies, PD Orangi, enforcement, charged parking & LARP, Rs 1,983.064 million from dues of KMC and KDA against KESC, Rs 1,640.630 million from municipal utility charges & veterinary, IT & ETC, Rs 1,459.229 million from master plan, Rs 1,080.450 million from transport & communication, Rs 1,000 million from transfer of income from SBCA, Rs 992.500 million from enterprise & investment promotion, Rs 716.450 million from finance & accounts, Rs 630.344 million from engineering, Rs 97.600 million from recreation, culture & sports, Rs 61.750 million from municipal services and Rs 35.388 from KMTC.
He said the top priority had been given to development works with an allocation of Rs 9,565.538 million to engineering department. Another huge portion of Rs 7,329.877 million had been set aside for medical and health sector to provide better facilities to citizens in KMC-run hospitals and dispensaries. The education department had been allocated with a handsome amount of Rs 2,969.769 million for up gradation of schools and bringing improvement in the standard of education in government schools.
A total Rs 2,745.892 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 1,140.247 million while a sum of Rs 1,448.472 million was allocated for development of parks and recreation facilities in the city.
Other major allocations in the budget include Rs 600.211 million for information technology sector and Rs 577.509 million for the culture, sports and recreation department of the KMC.
Administrator Hashim Raza Zaidi said development activities in the city were carried out in accordance with the Karachi Strategic Development Plan 2020 which is aimed at developing the city’s infrastructure in future.
Giving details of major development projects included in the budget for next fiscal year, Zaidi said three-lane flyover will be constructed near Malir-15 and Malir Halt on Sharea Faisal to make this central corridor signal free with a cost of Rs 532 million and 386 million respectively. A handsome sum of Rs 468million has been earmarked in the budget for Karachi Medical & Dental College. Rs 400 million will be spent on the development works at KDA Scheme-41 Surjani Town whereas Rs 391.50million was allocated for development and improvement of various KMC parks. Development works in KDA North Karachi will be carried out with a cost of Rs 390.41 million in next financial year and Rs 350 million will be spent on the up gradation and the construction of walls of graveyards. The KMC will spend Rs 350million on the development and improvement of inter-city, towns and union councils roads and intersections and another Rs 350 million on the improvement and maintenance of roads, footpaths, culverts and roundabouts. Development works in KDA Scheme-36 will be carried out with a cost of Rs 300.70 million and in KDA Scheme-23 with a cost of Rs 300 million.
The KMC has earmarked Rs 300 million for phase-II of wireless video and surveillance system and heavy machinery and vehicles will be purchased during next financial year with a cost of Rs 250 million. Similarly, the development of Orangi Industrial Area will cost Rs 250 million and the construction work of Zulfiqarabad Oil Tankers Parking Terminal will be carried out with a cost of Rs 250 million. A sum of Rs 250 million has been allocated for city complaints information system and the KMC share in the Karachi Circular Railway Project will be Rs 200 million.
The city administrator Karachi said in order to solve the problem of vehicle parking in the city, the KMC will construct underground parking plaza at Clifton Block-7 with a cost of Rs 120 million and another parking plaza near Civic Center with similar cost.