Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar presents Rs27 million KMC budget

KARACHI - The Metropolitan Corporation of Pakistan's biggest city unveiled on Tuesday budget with an outlay of Rs27,170.97 million for the fiscal year 2018-19 amid protest by the opposition.

Mayor Karachi, Wasim Akhtar said that more funds had been allocated on development projects with no new tax burden on citizens, adding that almost 194 schemes would be completed with an amount of Rs5,61.585.

The council was told that as much as Rs9.629 million were saved this year.

In the current fiscal year, the KMC attained lion’s share for medical and health services worth Rs4,168.687 million, while Rs3,192.183 million for the municipal department and Rs966.352 million have been allocated for the parks and horticulture department.

Addressing the council, the mayor said they have completed six different schemes in the city. “Several roads in different areas of Gulberg has been constructed,” he said adding that the road from Jail chowrangi till Hassan Square has been constructed. In district central’s Nazimabad, several roads have been carpeted.

The mayor also promised to construct at least two graveyards in each district and in Surjani Town, he assured to construct a model graveyard. “We are also working to construct new fire brigade stations,” he said.

However, the opposition tore copies of the budget and roared, “the mayor is a thief.” Jamaat-e-Islami’s parliamentary leader in KMC council Junaid Mukati claimed that the amount allocated in the previous budget was never spent on the city. “The current budget will also land in corrupt hands,” he added.