Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered completing a Rs45 billion Sustainable Development Goals programme within two years, directing officials to fast-track implementation while enforcing strict financial discipline and transparency across the province.
During a review meeting he chaired at the CM House on Saturday, Shah ordered that all ongoing and approved development schemes adhere to timelines, warning that cost escalations or unnecessary alterations would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Officials said that 1,082 development schemes are under way across the province, adding that 928 projects have been formally approved, while funds have been released for 895 of them, and Rs25.93 billion has been disbursed for public development initiatives, with Rs9.72 billion already spent on active projects.
Shah ordered that 50 per cent of each scheme’s cost be allocated this financial year, with the remaining to be earmarked for the next year. He also ordered that all projects strictly follow their approved PC-I documentation, with digital monitoring systems in place to ensure transparency and accountability.
He ordered that at least 50 per cent of all development schemes be dedicated to water supply and drainage, declaring potable water and efficient sanitation systems “fundamental public necessities”.
Officials said that schemes exceeding Rs200 million in cost would be approved by the Provincial Development Working Party, while smaller projects would fall under the District Development Working Party. A significant proportion of the schemes is being executed by the public health engineering and local government departments.
Shah stressed that the objective is to not only approve development projects but also ensure tangible benefits for the public. He called for equitable distribution of schemes across all districts, and underscored the need for efficient utilisation of funds and rapid execution.
He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to achieve sustainable development targets, saying that social and economic uplift of the people of Sindh remains the government’s foremost priority.
