Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar Monday directed finance department to enhance allocation of amount for development and decrease amount for non development expenditures in the next fiscal budget.

Talking with finance departments' officers, Akhtar also directed them to allocate amount for 450 uplift schemes that suffered huge delay by non provision of funds by Sindh government. The preparation for next fiscal year budget was discussed in the meeting.

Akhtar directed his sub coordinates to expedite the works that have been delayed due to lockdown.

"Recommendations should be sought from head of different departments to incorporate their schemes in the budget. Schemes directly linked with the people should also be given priority," he added.

The mayor was of the view that Sindh government had paid Rs 625 million so far to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation for Annual Development Programme out of allocated amount of Rs 3300 million. He said development budget was Rs 5000 million in 2018-19 which was decreased to Rs 3300 millon in 2019-20 and even that amount was not paid to KMC so far.

"Karachi's many projects could have been completed if the provincial government had provided us the amount allocated for uplift works in the city. The KMC is utilizing its all resources for Karachi but the same are not enough for the mega city," he added.

He said KMC revenue has been decreased even more during lockdown and just a nominal revenue was generated but on the other hand expenditures were increased at hospitals under administrative control of KMC owing to Covid-19.

"The KMC has established four filter clinics at different hospitals and doctors and paramedics have been provided all personal protection equipments. A 100-beded separate ward has also been established at Cardiac Emergency Centre, Landhi for Covid-19 patients. The centre was also provided an ambulance" said the mayor.

He said doctors and paramedics at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and other hospitals are serving the people. He told that besides development, a fair amount will also be allocated to upgrade health and hospitals.

The mayor added Kidney Hill Park would be opened for public soon which would be a gift for Karachiites from the KMC. Another park in Nazimabad would also be completed and open for public by the next year. Financial adviser Riaz Khatri apprised Mayor that they had been holding meetings for preparing budget by incorporating recommendations.