Local tug of war: Opposition alleges Town-I budget part of city district allocation

Says district nazim should transfer funds generated locally to district

PESHAWAR: Opposition parties have decried the distribution of local government budget funds, saying funds generated at the local level should be given to the district government and not to town councils.

“We approve of the Provincial Finance Commission, but are against the move that local funds are given to Town-I,” Pakistan Peoples Party’s Razaullah Khan Chagharmatti told The Express Tribune. “Moreover, local funds were already included in the Town-I budget, even though they were also included in the city district government budget for fiscal year 2015-16.” He questioned how the funds can be made part of two budgets.

The local government budget is divided into two parts: funds generated locally, through bus stands and other means, and those which are allocated from the Provincial Finance Commission. Opposition leaders are of the view that local funds be allocated under the city district budget.

“I met district nazim Asim Khan and told him it was not fair to announce the same budget for the second time, but he ignored me,” said Chagharmatti. “No doubt, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is in power but that does not mean they violate the rules.”

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Khalid Waqas Chamkani said if members of the opposition have issues with the budget they should have discussed it Asim. He added the local funds should either be part of the city district budget or the Town-I budget – not both.

From town to district

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl leader Zubair Ali said they have approved of that part of the budget that comes from PFC but oppose the second part that is of the local funds. “The Town-I budget was deliberately included in the estimated budget [for the city district],” he said. “Property and latrine rents and taxes from terminals are revenues of Town-I which should legally be transferred to the district.”

He added the auction advertised for the Town-I assets was published in leading Urdu newspapers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday. “The announcement included General Bus Stand, Karkhano Bus Stand and clinics, hospitals and latrine fees,” he said. He was of the view the auction should be cancelled. “The district nazim should take the issue with the chief minister and resolve the matter.”

However, the district nazim has said he has constituted a 15-member committee that will meet to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, Peshawar Town-I nazim Zahid Nadeem has given a deadline to traders to remove encroachments in a week. He has asked their representatives to cooperate with the administration.

Traders held a meeting and ensured Naseem of their support if the city district government transfers assets of Town-I to the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2015.