Islamabad: CDA unveils Rs 28.8bn surplus budget

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Chairman Inayat Elahi says 70 percent budget for development, 30 percent non-development expenditure
* Calls budget realistic in comparison with last year when half of Rs 25 billion remained unspent
* Focus on development of ignored sectors, replacement of rusty water pipes and sewers

By Fazal Sher

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday announced Rs 28.851 billion surplus budget for 2009-10, which is 11.2 percent higher than 2008-09 budget.

The projected receipts are estimated at Rs 28.85 billion while the projected expenditure is Rs 26.05 billion suggesting Rs 2.8 billion surplus.

Announcing the budget, CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said focus was on development of roads, sewerage system, water supply, special projects and environmental protection.

Projects: “As much as 70 percent of the total budget will be spent on development projects and 30 percent on non-development activities,” he said, “and no new taxes will be introduced.”

Rs 21.066 billion has been earmarked for development and Rs 7.785 billion for non-development expenditure. This time, the federal government has increased CDA’s allocations under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) from Rs 392.114 million to Rs 2.549 billion.

Elahi said the CDA planned to develop ignored sectors and replace rusty water supply pipes and sewers. “Consultants will point out flaws in (water supply and sewerage) system and we will replace it,” he said.

Realistic budget: He said budget estimates had been made considering expenditure and availability of funds. “Every organisation has its capacity. Last time, we could not utilize budgetary allocations, therefore there is no point in going for drastic increase in budget outlay this time,” he said.

He said before his appointment the CDA had proposed to announce Rs 33 billion budget. “But we decided to announce a realistic budget,” he said.

In 2008-09, the CDA made use of only 50 percent of its over Rs 25 billion budget. Elahi said 57.50 percent of the total budget would be spent on ongoing projects and 42.50 percent on new ones.

He said new posts would be created only if they could substantially contribute towards improving revenue generation and efficiency of the CDA to reduce non-development expenditure.

Comparison: Elahi said the CDA had allocated Rs 9.455 billion for its Engineering Wing this year compared with Rs 12.541 billion last year. The Engineering Wing would execute various ongoing and new development projects this year, he said.

Similarly, the CDA had allocated Rs 1.492 billion for Environment Wing this year compared with Rs 1.479 billion last year, he said. For Administration Wing, Rs 494.310 million had been allocated this year compared with Rs 502 million last year, he said.

Elahi said Rs 2.277 billion had been allocated for Planning and Design Wing this year compared with Rs 1.879 billion last year, adding Rs 1.500 billion had been allocated for Estate Wing this year compared with Rs 2.081 billion last year.

He said efforts would be made to ensure timely resolution of public complaints, maintenance of financial stability of the CDA, eradication of encroachments, revival of citizen committees and control on excessive advertisements in the city.

Strong DMD needed: Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to improve Disaster Management Directorate (DMD) in view of lurking dangers, said CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi on Tuesday.

He said a well-equipped disaster management department was a must in these times. Strict directives had been issued to the officials concerned to start special training of fire bridged and conduct maximum mock exercises in order to be prepared for countering emergencies, he said.

He said the CDA had planned to control rising incidents of fire on Margalla Hills. The CDA would form a public committee and would coordinate with capital police and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration in this regard, he said.

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