Contention: City district govt, admin at loggerheads over budget

Letter from DC terms it illegal; district nazim claims procedure was followed

PESHAWAR: The budget passed by the city district government has become a bone of contention between the district administration and city district government.

The provincial finance department has termed the district budget preparation and the district nazim’s presentation and the district council’s approval of it as illegal.

A letter was written by the finance department to the secretary of the Local Government and Rural Development department which stated that the nazim has violated the rules in preparation of the budget. The letter proposes that the local government secretary should place the issue before the local government commission.

Previously, opposition members of the district council also submitted a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to declare the passing of the budget null and void as it was against the rules. The verdict on the case has yet to be issued by PHC.

The letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, states the DC is the principal accounting officer (PAO) of the district. As a result, the formulation and the consolidation of district budget proposals and its scrutiny comes under his domain as per the District Budget Rules 2016.

Similarly, under Rules of Business (RoBs) 2015, the DC is answerable to the accounts committee of the council public accounts committee of the provincial assembly and to the finance department of provincial government.

Moreover, under RoBs, all cases submitted to the nazim shall be routed through DC.

“In light of all the rules set up for preparation of the budget, the [preparation of budget and its presentation without consulting DC] is illegal,” the letter read.

The letter added that under District Budget Rules 2016, no lump-sum provision can be made in district budget. Furthermore, the letter quoted relevant rules of the district RoBs to prepare the budget and stated that appropriation, supervision of expenditure and allocation of budget to devolved departments of the districts is the responsibility of district finance office. As a result, the allocation of lump-sum amount under the head of local government department is not covered under relevant law and rules.

The letter, advised the local government secretary, to place the issue before the local government commission for proper decision under Section 54(2) and Section 5(c) of the K-P Local Government Act, 2013. In the letter, it was further requested that the adherence of laws and rules should be ensured for the smooth functioning of the local government.

When contacted by The Express Tribune, district nazim Arbab Muhammad Asim said the budget has been prepared and passed in compliance with proper rules of the local government. He did, however, say if the relevant personnel at the DC’s office have misplaced the files of the budget proposal, the responsibility falls on the department concerned and they should be made accountable for it.

On the other hand, Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said expressed ignorance on the matter and claimed to have no information about the fact that a letter has been issued by the finance department regarding the district budget. Speaking to The Express Tribune on Wednesday, he said  he has no idea that a letter about district budget has been written. The finance minister said the letter may have been sent by low-ranking officials of the finance department.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2016.