CM Sindh presides over Cabinet meeting; reviews 57-item agenda
KARACHI (Nov 20): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while presiding over a cabinet meeting, approved $15 million Grant for the New JPMC Emergency Tower, the establishment of a community health company, the creation of a Sindh government cloud, the setup of 14 anti-narcotic courts, and a Centre for Excellence for countering violent extremism. The cabinet also adopted austerity measures, allowed the purchase of a heritage building for the IT Tower, and extended the validity of the screening test until June 2028.
The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and concerned secretaries and other officers.
The cabinet considered 57 agenda items – one of the longest agendas taken up in a single sitting. At the outset, the Chief Minister offered a dua for former chief minister Aftab Shaban Mirani and former provincial minister Lal Bux Bhutto, praying for their eternal peace.
The Chief Minister also announced that cabinet meetings will now be held every fortnight, with the next session scheduled for December 2 (Tuesday).
$15 million Grant for New JPMC Emergency Tower:
The Cabinet, after deliberation, approved a grant-in-aid of $15 million (or its equivalent in PKR) to the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF). The grant was requested for the supply of utilities and procurement of equipment for a proposed new 12-storied Emergency Tower at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi.
The total estimated cost of the proposed Emergency Tower is $ 35 million. A consortium of PAF-JPMC donors has already committed $20 million for the construction component. The remaining $15 million is sought from the Sindh Government for equipment and utilities.
The proposed grant of $15 million is planned to be released in two equal instalments of 50 per cent ($7.5 million) each, during the Financial Years 2026-27 and 2027-28.
The chief minister said that the proposed Emergency Tower will offer 722 beds and 17 operating theatres, a significant increase from the present Emergency Department’s 224 beds and three operating theatres. This expansion is expected to significantly increase patient load capacity, enhance emergency services, and offer major financial relief to low-income patients.
The Patients’ Aid Foundation, through a public-private partnership, has already expanded JPMC’s capacity from 1,100 to 2,208 beds. The ongoing completion of two major buildings, the 12-storey Sardar Yasin Malik Medical Complex (SYMMC) and the 7-storey Officers’ Ward (Rabia Rashid Soorty Building – RRSB), is expected to further increase JPMC’s capacity to 2,584 beds by the end of 2026.
People’s Community Health Services Company:
The cabinet approved the establishment of the People’s Community Health Services Company, a not-for-profit entity under Section 42 of the Companies Act, 2017, aimed at revitalising and expanding community-level healthcare across the province.
The initiative will modernise and supplement the ageing Lady Health Workers (LHW) program – launched by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto – which currently covers only 41 per cent of Sindh’s population. With over 9,600 LHWs and supervisors set to retire by 2035, the new company will hire and train a fresh workforce of Community Health Workers equipped with digital tools, transport, and real-time reporting systems to extend services to the remaining 59 per cent of uncovered communities.
The company will be governed by a nine-member Board chaired by the Health Secretary, with cross-sectoral representation and independent experts. A seed allocation of Rs 200 million for FY 2025-26 has been approved to support initial setup, training, logistics, and transport. The Cabinet also approved the Memorandum and Articles of Association required by SECP.
Revised budget for Children’s Hospital, North Karachi:
The cabinet approved the rationalisation of budget for the Sindh Government Children Hospital North Karachi (SGCHNK), operating under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI).
The SGCHNK is a 225-bedded hospital with a Service and Management Agreement spanning 10 years, from September 30, 2016, to September 29, 2026.
The Health Department, in consultation with PEI, rationalised the budget for the final (10th) year of the contract to Rs. 833.77 million, which includes Rs. 738.65 million for operations and Rs. 95.12 million for capital expenditure (CapEx).
Secure private Cloud for Sindh govt:
The cabinet approved the establishment of a Government-owned Secure Private Cloud, under the CLICK Project funded by the World Bank, to host the S-BOSS e-Licensing Portal and future government applications.
The cloud, managed by the Sindh Science & IT Department, will provide a scalable, secure, and centralised IT infrastructure, ensuring data sovereignty, operational continuity for 55 million citizens, and long-term cost savings for the provincial government. The initiative marks the first-ever government-owned cloud in Pakistan, creating a foundational platform for all e-governance services across Sindh.
14 ATC courts redesinated as Narcotics courts:
The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Home Department to redesignate 14 Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) as ‘Special Courts’ under the Sindh Control of Narcotics Substance (CNS) Act, 2024.
Currently, Sindh has 33 ATCs, with 20 in Karachi and 13 in other districts. Observing low caseloads in several Karachi ATCs, the Home Department proposed abolishing 13 ATCs in Karachi and one in Hyderabad and converting them into Special Courts to expedite narcotics-related cases.
The re-designation will establish Special Courts across Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, and Larkana divisions. Remaining ATCs in Sindh will be reorganised to ensure efficient handling of pending cases.
The proposal aligns with Section 13 of the Anti-Terrorism (Sindh Amendment) Act, 2025, allowing the provincial government to increase, decrease, or abolish courts as needed.
Centre to counter violent extremism: The Sindh Cabinet approved the establishment of the Sindh Centre for Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism under the Home Department.
The move follows the enactment of the Sindh Centre for Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Act, 2025, aimed at preventing violent extremism, terrorism, militancy, and subversive activities in the province. The dedicated centre will serve as a hub for research, coordination, and implementation of counter-extremism initiatives across Sindh.
Sindh IT Tower: The cabinet also received a brief from the Science & Information Technology Department regarding the proposal to procure the Habib Insurance / HBL heritage building on M.A. Jinnah Road for establishing the Sindh IT Tower.
The proposal – which aims to house digital innovation labs, cloud data centre facilities, co-working spaces, and the headquarters of the Sindh IT Company – was discussed with directions for comprehensive structural, financial, and heritage-preservation assessments before further action.
The cabinet approved the proposal in principle and directed the IT department to carry out necessary assessments from different departments, including the Board of Revenue for price assessment, N.E.D. University of Engineering & Technology to conduct structural strength & condition assessment. And the Culture department to assess/purchase Heritage Building under the Sindh Cultural Heritage law.
Recruitment in PPP projects: The cabinet also considered a proposal from the Works & Services Department seeking relaxation of the recruitment ban imposed on 11 August 2023, to allow hiring of essential professional staff for its PPP Node, which is overseeing important infrastructure projects including the Hyderabad – Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway, Jhirk – Mullah Katiyar Bridge, Karachi – Thatta Dual Carriageway, and ongoing schemes such as the Ghotki – Kandhkot Bridge and M9-N5 Link Road.
The cabinet approved the request and directed Works department to engage IBA Karachi for conducting the recruitment process for eight market-based positions (Directors and Assistant Directors for Finance, Legal, Procurement, and Technical fields).
Extension in validity of screening test:
The cabinet considered the extension in the validity period of general screening test results conducted by Sukkur IBA Testing Services (STS) for recruitment against BS-5 to BS-15 posts. It was noted that written tests for the Graduation Category were held in January 2023, and for the Intermediate Category in June 2023, with a three-year validity approved earlier by the cabinet. However, due to a High Court stay order, the 2024 general elections, and the subsequent recruitment ban, appointments could not be made.
To prevent the test results from expiring in 2026 and to safeguard candidates’ eligibility, the cabinet reviewed the proposal and approved the extension of the validity period up to June 2028.
Austerity Subcommittee: Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah presented the report of the Cabinet’s Sub-Committee on Austerity.
Important points shared with the cabinet included that all old and replaced vehicles of administrative departments, including Local Government & Housing, must be surrendered to S&GAD’s General Administration Wing. Departments will now be required to report any vehicles under unauthorised possession before presenting proposals.
The Subcommittee authorised S&GAD to retrieve unauthorised vehicles from all departments and place them in the official pool.
Sindh Charity Commission:
The cabinet approved the establishment of the Sindh Charity Commission under the Sindh Charity Commission Act, 2019 – legislation that governs the registration, regulation, and oversight of all charitable organisations, NGOs, and NPOs operating in the province. The commission is mandated to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper utilisation of charitable funds through mandatory registration, financial monitoring, and annual reporting of charities.
The cabinet reviewed the composition of the Commission, which includes the Minister for Social Welfare as Chairperson; two MPAs nominated by the Speaker; and Secretaries of Social Welfare, Finance, Health, Home, School Education, Women Development, and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities as ex officio members, along with five non-official members to be notified by the government.
Reconstitution KFHA Board:
The cabinet approved the reconstitution of the Board of Directors of the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA). It was noted that the tenure of the previously notified Board had expired in August 2025, requiring reconstitution under the law.
The proposed Board includes official members such as the Minister for Livestock & Fisheries (Chairman), senior secretaries, heads of federal and provincial fisheries institutions, the Deputy Commissioner Keamari, and representatives of the Maritime Security Agency. The non-official members consist of nominees from the Fishermen Cooperative Society Ltd. (FCSL) and the Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association.
Sugarcane Crushing Season:
The cabinet discussed the sugarcane crushing season 2025–26. Under the Sugar Factories Control Act, 1950, crushing in Sindh must begin no later than 30 November, and growers had strongly demanded the timely commencement to prevent loss of sucrose content and delays in land preparation for subsequent crops.
It was noted that the Sugarcane Control Board, despite repeated meetings, could not secure participation from the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), prompting the department to proceed with recommendations supported by growers. The Chief Minister approved 15 November 2025 as the official start date.
Residential Plots for KPC Members:
The cabinet also reviewed the allocation of 639 additional residential plots for members of the Karachi Press Club (KPC). It was noted that KPC had earlier been allotted 1,271 plots through the Lyari Development Authority (LDA) and had subsequently requested allocation of 700 additional plots, later verified as 639 eligible members.
The proposal presented to the cabinet included LDA’s request for authorisation to plan, allocate, and develop the plots on 125 acres in Hawksbay Scheme-42, as well as approval for the release of necessary funds.
The Local government department informed the cabinet that the required lists of 1,271 existing allottees and 639 proposed beneficiaries had been submitted by LDA and incorporated in the revised summary. The cabinet approved the proposal.
Allotment of Plots for KPC members in MDA Projects:
The cabinet considered the Local Government proposal for the allotment of residential plots to members of the Karachi Press Club in the New Malir Housing Scheme-I (Block-12) and Taiser Town Scheme-45 (Sectors 22 & 23) under the already approved 80/20 cost-sharing policy. It was noted that the Malir Development Authority (MDA), in its Governing Body meeting held on 16 October 2024, had decided that 80% of the land and development cost would be borne by the Government of Sindh, while 20% would be paid by KPC members. The cabinet was informed that computer balloting for these plots had been conducted earlier in 2014 and 2018, and that a committee headed by the Secretary Information Department had endorsed the 80/20 policy.
The cabinet approved the proposal.
CRMS agreement & Mobile App Addendum:
The Sindh Cabinet approved the Civil Registration Management System (CRMS) Agreement, originally signed on January 16, 2020, between NADRA and the Local Government & Housing Town Planning Department (LG&HTPD).
The CRMS is a web application enabling local councils (Municipal, Town, and Union Committees/Councils) to digitally register vital events such as birth, marriage, divorce, and death.
In addition to the original agreement, the Cabinet also approved an Addendum to introduce a CRMS Mobile Application. This mobile application will allow citizens to report and register vital statistics at the pre-existing rates, incurring no new financial implications for the Government.
The chief minister, with the approval of the cabinet, has already waived the fee.
Framework for Women’s TEVT Institute in Malakand:
The Sindh Cabinet has approved the Framework Agreement/ MoU for the establishment of a Women’s Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TEVT) Institute in Batkhela, District Malakand (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
The project, proposed by SZABIST–ZABTech, is part of the Cabinet’s inter-provincial facilitation initiatives. The total commitment from the Government of Sindh is Rs1.522 billion.
Under the 20-year renewable agreement, SZABIST–ZABTech will be responsible for procuring land, constructing the facility, and managing its operation, ensuring full compliance with National TVET standards. The Universities & Boards Department will facilitate, coordinate, and monitor the project’s implementation, overseen by a six-member Steering Committee.
The draft MoU, vetted by the Law Department and finalised with all stakeholders, has received the Cabinet’s approval, paving the way for the agreement to be signed by SZABIST–ZABTech on October 9, 2025.
Education City: allotment Rules:
The cabinet approved the Education City Land Allotment Rules and Education City Regulations. The rules and regulations are vital for carrying out the purposes of the Education City Act 2013, which governs the Education City Project.
The Land Allotment Mechanism process involves an application for a permit to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU). Permit holders are required to pay an amount equivalent to 50 per cent of the prevailing market price for land allotted to Education Institutions. Allotments may be cancelled if the land is used for a purpose other than that for which it was allotted.
Education City Regulations: These provide guidelines for a wide range of matters, including Master plans, standards, and design guidelines. Control and supervision of land allotment and usage.
