KMC announces Rs27mn surplus budget

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Tuesday announced a surplus budget for the fiscal year 2018-19 despite opposition parties’ protest.

Giving a budget of Rs27,170.97 million, the council was informed that as much as Rs9.629 million were saved this year. Mayor Wasim Akhtar said that more funds have been allocated on development projects. “No new tax has been imposed,” he said. It was said that almost 194 schemes will be completed with an amount of Rs5,61.585.

During the current fiscal year, the KMC attained a major share for medical and health services worth Rs4,168.687 million, while Rs3,192.183 million for the municipal department and Rs966.352 million have been allocated for the parks and horticulture department.

The Karachi mayor said they have completed six different schemes in the city. “Several roads in different areas of Gulberg has been constructed,” he said.

Akhtar also promised to construct at least two graveyards in each district and in Surjani Town, he assured to construct a model graveyard. “We are also working to construct new fire brigade stations,” he said.

However, the opposition tore copies of the budget and roared, “the mayor is a thief.” Jamaat-e-Islami’s parliamentary leader in KMC council Junaid Mukati claimed that the amount allocated in the previous budget was never spent on the city. “The current budget will also land in corrupt hands,” he added.