Opposition parties declare district budget against code of conduct

Opposition says Rs497.19 million, the revenue of Town-I, already included in annual budget

PESHAWAR: Opposition parties in the Peshawar city district government declared on Wednesday district budget for 2015-16 to be in violation of the code of conduct, and demanded a review.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Parliamentary Leader Zubair Ali said they approved the first part of the budget but strongly opposed the second.

“Rs497.19 million, the revenue of Town-I, was already included in the annual budget in November. However, the district government deliberately included it in their estimated budget, which is not fair,” Ali said.

First development budget presented by city district council

The JUI-F leader argued property and terminals tax revenue had come under Town-I after dissolution of previous local government system in 2008.

“This is a golden opportunity for the current district Nazim to transfer Town-I assets to the district government,” he said, adding they will support Asim Khan to take action against the decision.

He said the district Nazim should take the issue to the chief minister and resolve the matter.

“The district government could not identify one developmental project in their budget, then how they claimed change in the province,” added the opposition leader.

PTI member Al-Hajj Noorwali Khalil said this was the first time the district government distributed developmental funds equally among the members.

However, minority member Sudagar Masih said there was no allocation of developmental funds for the minorities.