City Council approves Rs49.6b surplus budget

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) City Council on Monday approved the Rs49,602.138 million surplus budget, presented by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, with a majority vote amid commotion and protest by the opposition.

Pandemonium prevailed during the session with the opposition members raising slogans and tearing the budget copies. At one point during the tumultuous session, the treasury and opposition physically pushed each other and came to blows.

Surprisingly, even the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members from Lyari also raised slogans ‘Karachi ko pani do, Karachi ko pani do’ (give water to Karachi).

Lyari UC Chairman Haji Abdul Majeed Baloch of PPP slammed mayor for the dilapidated condition of Lyari and shortage of water supply. He also demanded the provision of funds to the UC chairmen.

PPP’s transgender member Shezadi Rai said, “Has anyone in the opposition even read the budget they are rejecting?” She said opposition member wasted time of the House.

Amid such turbulence the City Council approved a budget of Rs49,602.138 million for the 2024-25 fiscal, a surplus of Rs99.707 million.

The total income is estimated at Rs49,701.845 million, while the estimated expenditures are Rs49,602.138 million. Current Receipts is Rs39,718.132 million and Capital Receipts is Rs815.213 million, while funds for the District Annual Development Programme (ADP) are Rs9,168.500 million.

Establishment expenses are estimated at Rs27,846.975 million, contingent expenses Rs3,176.048 million, repair and maintenance Rs424.355 million, and development projects/works are estimated at Rs8,986.260 million.

Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, Municipal Commissioner SM Afzal Zaidi, and others were also present on the occasion.

Wahab emphasised the efforts to provide maximum facilities to citizens at the local level. Regarding development projects, he mentioned that funds have been allocated under the Federal PSDP Development Scheme 2024-25, with a total cost of Rs10,000 million for Karachi Development Package.

He said, Rs103.256 million has been allocated for road repair and maintenance, Rs1,000 million for the improvement of sports grounds, Rs111.62 million for the uplift and beautification of parks, and Rs8,785.118 million for the repair and beautification of bridges, flyovers, and underpasses.

The Shaheed-e-Millat Expressway, KPT Flyover to Manzoor Colony Phase I Scheme has been completed at a cost of Rs516.000 million, with work on Phase II ongoing and expected to be completed within this fiscal year. Additionally, 125 schemes worth Rs6,500 million are under way. For 2024-25, 162 new schemes under the provincial ADP are proposed at an estimated cost of Rs5,788.100 million.

The mayor told the house that the issue of Municipal Utility Charges, which had been under court consideration for years, has been resolved in KMC’s favour, potentially generating Rs4 billion in revenues for the city.

For the 2024-25 budget, expected revenue estimates include Rs25,054.245 million from government grants including Octroi and Zila Tax (OZT) share, Rs1,850 million from K-Electric’s dues to KMC, and Rs9,168.5 million from District ADP. Revenue recovery from various departments, with the most significant from the land department is expected at Rs1,026 million.