Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday approved a wide-ranging financial and development package covering public transport, policing, wheat price relief, Thar coal connectivity, internal audit reforms, social protection and the establishment of an IT Tower in Karachi.
The cabinet meeting Shah presided over at the CM House also confirmed the minutes of the Cabinet Committee on Finance presented by the local government minister. The cabinet sanctioned Rs964.4 million for procuring and operating public transport buses under a non-ADP scheme; Rs1 billion for producing films, dramas and documentaries for public awareness; and Rs5.84 billion for procuring arms and ammunition to strengthen the capacity of the Sindh police.
The cabinet also approved funds for sports events (including assistance for the IMC Over-40s T20 Cricket World Cup), grants for SOS Children’s Village in Tharparkar, establishing a project implementation unit under STEVTA, creating posts at newly established colleges, procuring vehicles for prisons and supporting cultural initiatives (including the 10th Adab Festival).
Funds were also cleared for emergency water supply schemes in Malir, constructing an additional ramp at the Korangi Causeway, renovating a government girls school in Saddar, and hosting the 2nd Joint CPA Asia and CPA South-East Asia Regional Conference at the provincial assembly.
The cabinet approved a revision of the Wheat Release Policy for 2025-26, allowing the immediate release of government wheat at an issue price of Rs8,000/100kg to flour mills, chakkies and traders, thereby reducing the price from Rs9,500.
A sub-committee was constituted to closely monitor wheat prices and, if required, recommend making adjustments to the government wheat issue price for the cabinet’s consideration. The cabinet approved the Regulatory Framework for Internal Audit under the Sindh Public Finance Administration Act, 2020, aimed at strengthening financial discipline, transparency and governance across government departments.
It also cleared the creation of a cadre of chief internal audit officers in the finance department and 45 posts on contract/market-based remuneration in the secretariat side of all administrative departments. These will be regulated by the finance department.
The cabinet discussed the Sindh Sales Tax exemption for public-private partnership projects following the expiry of the general exemption on June 30. The matter was referred to the Cabinet Committee on Finance to examine the financial implications and submit recommendations in the next cabinet meeting.
The cabinet approved releasing over Rs6.6 billion as the provincial share for the Islamkot-Chhor railway line, the Bin Qasim-Port Qasim double track and the coal unloading facility project being executed as a 50-50 joint venture between the Sindh government and the federal government through the Ministry of Railways.
The cabinet approved the draft Pension Fund Managers Agreement for the Sindh Defined Contribution Pension Scheme, 2024, applicable to all employees recruited on or after July 1, 2024.
The cabinet approved a proposal of the home department for procuring a wireless communication system for the prisons, citing national interest and security considerations. It was informed that Rs200 million has already been released for 2025-26. The cabinet allowed hiring the NRTC for procuring the system.
The cabinet approved procuring a protected heritage building (Habib Insurance) on MA Jinnah Road to establish the Sindh IT Tower, which would serve as a hub for digital innovation, incubation, training and centralised government IT operations.
The cabinet also approved proposals for amending the Sindh Safe Cities Authority Act, 2019, to ensure smooth functioning and effective monitoring of the authority. The cabinet also approved the Thar Coal & Energy Board (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to strengthen the statutory and regulatory role of the board on the pattern of national regulators, harmonise the Thar Coal Tariff Determination Rules, 2014, and streamline the managing director’s appointment and tenure.
The cabinet approved a two-year extension for Sindh Revenue Board Chairman Dr Wasif Memon in recognition of his “outstanding performance and significant improvement in tax recoveries”.
The cabinet ratified the appointment of three judicial members to the Sindh Human Rights Commission in its meeting held on December 1 after a cabinet sub-committee recommended Iqbal Hussain Maitlo, Anand Ram D Sairani and Ahmed Luqman Memon for the vacant positions.
The cabinet approved amendments to the Concession Agreement for the M9-N5 Link Road Project to cover relief events occurring before and beyond the first operational year, ensuring proper calculation and verification of losses.
The cabinet also approved the payment of Rs573.42 million to the concessionaire from the Viability Gap Fund for the period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, due to delays in the completion of the M9 interchange. The cabinet also approved the post-facto appointment of Irshad Ali Sodhar (PAS, BS-19) as the CEO of the Sindh Social Protection Authority.
