For the first time in the history of the country, CDGK presented its draft budget on Tuesday, over two months earlier from start of next fiscal year.
Having total outlay of Rs 31.97 billion the draft budget for 2004-05 is about 15 percent higher as compared with the current year's budget of Rs 27.07 which was revised to Rs 24.26 billion only.
Addressing to a press conference, after the presentation of the draft budget in the City Council, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan highlighted the salient features of the draft budget and pointed out that it was for the first time in the history of the country that any government, either federal, provincial or city, had presented its budget more than two months in advance of the fiscal year for which it is meant.
He said that the advance draft budget had been presented in accordance with the SLGO Budget Rules condition that it could thoroughly be studied and debated by Council members before its approval.
He termed the new budget as public-friendly and development-oriented as it envisages Rs 15.63 billion allocation for development projects, higher by Rs 5.17 billion than last year's allocation of Rs 10.46 billion under the same head, constituting 49 percent of total budget.
Talking about the Rs 29 billion 'Karachi Package', he said that the contribution of CDGK in the package was set at Rs 6 and, out of this, "we have earmarked Rs 3 billion" for this purpose for the next fiscal year.
Emphasising the significance of education, he said that to ensure availability of educational facilities, Rs 5.92 billion had been allocated, showing an increase of 14 percent as compared to the allocation in the current budget.
He said that his aim was to bring City government educational institutions, particularly government schools, to the level which once upon a time had been an identity for this city of Karachi.
In this regard, he announced that Rs 50 million would be spent to improve the syllabus and management of these institutions.
He also highlighted the importance of health sector and said that Rs 2.55 billion had been proposed for this sector in next year's budget which is higher by 18 percent.
Naimatullah said that the steps to be taken in the health sector would include establishment of City Diagnostic Centres and a hospital for specialised diseases for which Rs 20 million had been kept, besides Rs 100 million earmarked for City Cardiac Hospital.
He said that provision of jobs in the government sector was becoming difficult day by day and City Government, realising the seriousness of this matter, has chalked out the project of 'Agro Industrial Farming Estate' in the new year's budget.
Under this project, he said, 'Farming Estates' for fish, dairy poultry farming and meat and milk processing would be initiated which would help provide 20,000 to 25,000 job opportunities besides ensuring the supply of quality milk, meat and other related food items at concessional prices.
He said that Rs 150 million had been kept aside through Citizen Community Board for development works while Rs 20 million would be spent on provision of recreational facilities, development of parks and plantation and pollution control.
He said that developmental activities would be undertaken at Safari Park and Zoological Garden while schemes had also been proposed for improvement of coastal areas and proper lighting facilities.
He added that funds had also been earmarked for professional training of government officials.
He told the media persons that many projects had been chalked out for investment in Karachi in which a number of domestic and foreign investors were showing interest and a number of MoUs had also been signed.