Wahab presents KMC budget

Rs32b tax-free surplus budget offers Rs5b for health services

KARACHI:

The Karachi Administrator, Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Wednesday presented over Rs32.21 billion budget for Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) budget for the financial year 2022-23 with Rs16.12 million surpluses.

Total receipt in the budget is Rs32.21 billion while the total expenditure are estimated at Rs32.19 billion.

Municipal Commissioner, Afzal Zaidi, Finance Advisor, Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto, Director Budget, Nasir Mahmood Ishaq, Senior Director HRM Imtiaz Abro, Senior Director Media Management, Ali Hassan Sajid and other officers were also present during presentation of the budget.

According to the budget book total receipts are expected to be Rs32.212 billion including current receipts of Rs26.61 billion, capital receipts of Rs0.5 billion and District ADP Funds of Rs5 billion.

The grant from the Sindh government including OZD share would be Rs18.6 billion and in terms of current and arrears from the provincial government in the head of Entertainment Tax, Rs200 million are expected to be transferred to the KMC. Liabilities of Rs1.85 billion on K-Electric are also expected to be given to the KMC. Similarly, Rs1,477.613 million revenue is expected from Land Enforcement, Estate, Katchi Abadis, PD Orangi and Charged Parking.

In terms of repair and maintenance, Rs271.38 million are earmarked while development projects are estimated at Rs2.72 billion.

In the budget for the next financial year, Rs8677.48 million have been allocated for pension fund, miscellaneous expenses and bailout package.

Similarly Rs5,756.25 million are fixed for medical and health services; Rs3,943.03 million for municipal services; and Rs2079.01 million for Engineering Department.

In the budget of next fiscal year Rs1,422.005 million have been earmarked for Land Enforcement, Estate, Katchi Abadis, PD Orangi and Charged Parking. Rs1,184.42 million are fixed for Parks and Horticulture Department; Rs973.45 million for Culture, Sports and Recreation; Rs898.49 million for Finance and Accounts (MUCT), Rs184.23 million for Law Department; and Rs888.58 million for CLICK project.

In the budget for the financial year 2022-23, Rs.500 million are allocated for development works including improvement of roads, sidewalks, sewerage line, bridges and intersections,. Similarly, Rs.250 million are earmarked for management of street lights on major roads, Rs172 million for improvement of infrastructure.

An amount of Rs115.68 million has been set aside to purchase ventilators and other medical equipment for KMC hospitals; Rs100 million for development of KMC Parks, Rs85 million for improvement of Karachi Zoo, Safari Park and purchase of new animals.

The KMC has also allocated Rs80 million for tree planting on major roads.

The administrator said that no new tax has been imposed in the budget. He said that the PPP government does not make false claims and promises but believes in real service.

Wahab said that the solar energy park at Kidney Hill would be operational by the end of July to deal with the energy crisis, which would generate 365,000 units of electricity to illuminate street lights in the city.

He said that efforts are being made to improve KMC's revenue system so that the next mayor does not have to face the unavailability of funds. He said that ADP funds were being utilised for the city improvement, adding that KMC land records had been computerised for the first time.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2022.