Pakistan

Civic agency’s board approves Rs35b budget

The creation of the metropolitan corporation has seen a reduction in total staff and general outlay

Our Correspondent June 28, 2016

The creation of the metropolitan corporation has seen a reduction in total staff and general outlay. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board of Directors approved on Tuesday a Rs35.1492 billion budget for fiscal year 2016-17. A meeting was held at CDA Headquarters, chaired by Chairman Maroof Afzal, and attended by Environment Member Sanaullah Aman, Engineer Member Shahid Sohail, and Planning and Designing Member Waseem Ahmed Khan.

The CDA Finance Director presented a proposed budget for coming fiscal year, which was approved by the board. According to the budget documents, the CDA will generate Rs32.3 billion through its own resources — primarily the sale of land — while Rs3 billion would come from the Federal Public Sector Development (PSDP) plan.

The board allocated Rs27.53 billion for ongoing and 15 new development schemes for the federal capital and gave approval for 10 percent increments in the salaries of CDA staff.

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The CDA has allocated Rs5.2 billion for the salaries of roughly 4,000 staffers, while Rs1.60 billion have been set aside to pay the salaries of 9,000 staffers transferred to the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) for four months. The IMC is supposed to pay back the money once its allocations are released by the federal government.

The CDA has allocated funds for development projects in urban and rural areas including construction of a bypass at Bhara Kahu to maintain smooth traffic flow on Murree Road, and the allocation of funds for expansion of Islamabad Expressway. Moreover, the CDA has planned to build two new underpasses — one at Faisal Avenue and another on Seventh Avenue. In addition, the CDA also plans to build two interchanges at Margalla Avenue.

The annual budget also apportions money for the development of new sectors including C-16 and E-12. The CDA has set amounts in its annual budget for the resumption and construction of various proposed recreational projects in F-9 Park, Shadrah, and other public parks.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2016.