Mayor Karachi presides budget review meeting

KARACHI: Mayor of Karachi, Wasim Akhtar Monday said that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) budget for the next fiscal year should be a realistic one with priority to development projects and decrease in non-development expenditures.

The KMC presently facing short fall of about Rs 7 crores every month in the OZT grant received from Singh Government and despite of financial constraints, a balanced budget will be prepared for financial year 2018-19.

He expressed these views while chairing a meeting to review the budget proposals sent by different departments of KMC, said a statement on Monday.

The meeting was attended by the municipal commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman, parliamentary leader of city council Aslam Shah Afridi, chairman land committee Arshad Hasan, chairman finance committee Nadeem Hidayat Hashmi, advisor to Mayor FarhatKhan, Financial advisor Dr. Asghar Shaikh, senior director finance and accounts Rehan Khan, director budget Mehmood Baig and other officers.

The Mayor urged officers to ensure timely finalization of all budget proposals so that budget could be presented on time.

He said the budget should not be a table of figures but it must be realistic and focused on development in the city.

He said the revenue targets for various department should be set in accordance with the recovery made in the current year.

He said, "We want all ongoing projects to complete in time and new projects start with available resources, as our topmost priority is development activities in the city."