Chitral — The Chitral district council presented its annual budget for 2016-17 on Monday after the district nazim Maghfirat Shah tabled it. Out of the total Rs291 million, Rs3.74 million was allocated for current expenditure. A monthly grant of Rs15,000 was proposed for the district councillors.

According to the nazim, the provincial government did not delegate any real authority and power to the district government after passing the local bodies act in the province. He cited that as the reason the district government could not deliver its promises responsibly and on time.  “Democracy in the country will not strengthen if the provincial government does not delegate power to public representatives— councillors and nazims,” Shah said.

He added the district council condemned district officers who were absent from the budget meeting.

The district administration also strongly condemned the suicide of a young girl at a school in the district and asked the police and district authorities to probe the matter and mete out stern punishment to the culprits.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2016.
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