CCB approves Rs2.5 billion budget

No major allocations made for development projects

RAWALPINDI:

The Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) on Wednesday approved a budget of Rs2.5 billion for the fiscal year 2022–2023.

The budget now awaits the approval of the Department of Military Lands and Cantonments (DMLC).

The budget was approved at a board meeting of the CCB presided over by Cantonment Boards’ President Brig Salman Nazar.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and CCB Vice President Chaudhry Changez Khan, Jamaat-eIslami and Pakistan Tehreeke-Isaf members also attended the meeting.

The CCB also envisages receiving Rs2,396 million in revenue from various fees and taxes. The CCB could not increase its revenue sources significantly.

No mega projects have been included in the new budget with the non-development budget getting a major chunk of scarce resources. No taxes have been levied in the new budget.

In addition, no major development projects have been included in the budget for elected public representatives despite their recommendations.

A total of Rs500 had been allocated for the repair of roads and streets, water supply schemes and street lights on the recommendations of the public representatives. Similarly, Rs800 million had been allocated for salaries and establishment head, Rs700 million for miscellaneous expenditures and Rs500 million for construction and restoration of buildings.

New development plans and general works will each get Rs250 million. In the previous fiscal year, only a budget of Rs1,400 million was approved for the CCB by the competent authority.

The MLC director-general may cut the development budget once again.

Sources said that the CCB's salary budget has surpassed Rs80 million, making it impossible for the board to pay salaries because of no new sources of income.