• St. Saviour’s Church Sukkur, St. Thomas Cathedral Church Hyd to be restored
• Sindh Climate Change Fund and Climate Change Board established
• Rs30 million approved for the Karachi Literature Festival
KARACHI: The Sindh Cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, approved a wide-ranging set of financial, administrative and policy decisions covering education, culture, security, agriculture, climate action, infrastructure and social protection, while directing all departments to ensure timely execution, transparency and measurable results.
The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants, the chief secretary and relevant secretaries. The cabinet also ratified the minutes of its previous meeting.
The chief minister said the government’s priority was “delivery, not just approvals,” stressing that public funds must translate into visible improvements in services and quality of life. “Every rupee approved by the cabinet must be utilised transparently and monitored rigorously,” he directed.
Education, culture and heritage
Presenting the report of the Cabinet Committee on Finance, Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah briefed the cabinet on several recommendations. The cabinet approved a scheme of Rs190.211 million for the construction of a second floor at the Girls’ Hostel of NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi. The chief minister observed that expanding student accommodation was essential to support female enrolment in higher education.
For heritage conservation, the cabinet approved Rs109.5 million – 50 per cent of the total cost – for the preservation and restoration of Saint Saviour’s Church in Sukkur and Saint Thomas Cathedral Church in Hyderabad, with the remaining funds to be provided in the next financial year. “Sindh’s heritage belongs to all communities and must be preserved with care and dignity,” the chief minister said.
The cabinet also approved Rs30 million for the Karachi Literature Festival and Rs100 million for strengthening Sindh Archives, including publication of rare manuscripts, conservation of old newspapers, digitisation of records and establishment of an oral history and archival gallery.
Development, roads and local schemes:
In the public works sector, approval was granted for the rehabilitation of a three-kilometre link road from Begu Kaka to Agro Rahu in District Matiari, with Rs33.785 million to be released during FY 2025 – 26. Several road construction and renovation schemes in districts Sujawal and Shikarpur, including the renovation of Shri Khat Wari Darbar, Shikarpur, were also approved through intra-sectoral savings.
The chief minister instructed the Planning & Development and Finance departments to closely monitor timelines and quality standards. “Delays and cost overruns will not be tolerated,” he warned.
Security and governance
On internal security, the cabinet approved, in principle, Rs1.24 billion for the operationalisation of the Provincial Intelligence Fusion & Threat Assessment Centre (PIFTAC). The package includes funding for equipment, staffing, maintenance and vehicles. However, the cabinet directed that procurement of vehicles be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Austerity Measures.
“Security institutions must be strengthened, but with financial discipline and justification for every expense,” Murad Shah said.
The cabinet also approved authentication and fund release mechanisms for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) schemes covering hundreds of projects across the province, and sanctioned Rs140 million for a two-week induction training programme for newly inducted officers of the Sindh Local Government Board.
Sugar sector deregulation
The cabinet was briefed on the federal government’s plan to deregulate Pakistan’s sugar sector by 2026 fully. Sindh, which contributes 26 per cent of national sugarcane production with 38 sugar mills across 16 districts, stressed the need for a phased transition.
The chief minister directed that farmers’ interests must be protected through third-party weighing, transparent payment timelines and advance notification of banned low-yield cane varieties. “Efficiency cannot come at the cost of growers,” he said, adding that safeguards were essential to manage price volatility during the transition. A ministerial committee was formed to submit detailed recommendations at the next cabinet meeting.
Wheat support and flood rehabilitation
The cabinet approved an increase of Rs6.1 billion in the Flood Emergency Rehabilitation (FERC) fund, raising it to Rs27.6 billion, to cover farmers previously missed due to currency fluctuations. This coincides with the launch of the Rs56 billion Sindh Wheat Growers Support Program, under which farmers will receive Rs22,000 per acre.
Directing the agriculture department to resolve all 8,105 pending flood-relief complaints by the end of 2025, the chief minister said, “Delayed relief undermines public trust and must be addressed immediately.”
Climate action and carbon finance
In a landmark decision, the cabinet approved the establishment of the Sindh Climate Change Fund and the Sindh Climate Change Board. The fund will be financed primarily through a 12 per cent Corresponding Adjustment Fee on net revenue from carbon credit sales.
The chief minister said Sindh would not compromise on its constitutional and financial rights, firmly rejecting any policy that allowed redistribution of the province’s unutilised climate funds. “Sindh will safeguard its share and ensure climate financing directly benefits vulnerable communities,” he asserted.
Health, welfare and infrastructure
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust: The cabinet granted a one-year exemption from Infrastructure Cess to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, recognising its status as a non-profit cancer hospital and facilitating the import of life-saving medical equipment.
Hyderabad–Sukkur Motorway (M-6): For infrastructure, the cabinet ratified the release of over Rs1.13 billion for land acquisition for the Hyderabad – Sukkur Motorway (M-6), approved a $100 million World Bank negotiation package for the Sindh Public Resources for Inclusive Development (SPRID) programme.
The cabinet also decided to engage an independent legal firm to review the Terms of Reference of the 11th National Finance Commission.
Rescue 1122: Additional funding of Rs192.745 million was approved for the expansion of Rescue 1122 services, while health insurance coverage for provincial employees was renewed, increasing total funding from Rs550 million to Rs650 million.
Concluding the meeting, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reiterated that approved initiatives must be implemented “with speed, integrity and accountability,” directing all departments to submit regular progress reports to the CM Secretariat. “Our goal is results on the ground, not paperwork,” he said.
