Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday presided over a cabinet meeting that approved a series of far-reaching policy, governance, economic and development initiatives, including the import of 0.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of wheat, and a 7.5 percent increase in the minimum wages.
Other initiatives included the restructuring of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Unit into a government-owned company, the extension of the Sindh Peoples Housing Initiative to Gilgit-Baltistan, the imposition of a toll on the Mehran Highway, and several institutional reforms aimed at strengthening governance and public service delivery.
Shah said Sindh is pursuing a reform-oriented agenda focused on economic stability, infrastructure development, social protection, institutional strengthening and improved service delivery. “The decisions taken today are aimed at safeguarding food security, protecting workers, modernising governance structures, attracting private investment and ensuring sustainable development across Sindh.”
The cabinet deliberated on the proposed Sindh Government Lands Management Bill, 2026, aimed at replacing the century-old Colonisation of Government Lands Act, 1912, with a modern and transparent legal framework for the management, allotment and utilisation of government land across the province.
The proposed legislation seeks to address longstanding issues in land governance by introducing market-based valuation, transparent public auction mechanisms, clear eligibility criteria for allotments, stronger enforcement provisions, and an effective grievance redressal system. The new framework will cater not only to agricultural land but also to industrial, residential, commercial, public-purpose and amenity projects.
Shah decided to constitute a committee comprising the law minister, the local government minister, the Sindh advocate general and others to further review the proposed legislation and submit its recommendations to him before its final approval and introduction in the provincial assembly.
The proposed law is expected to promote transparency, encourage investment, strengthen land governance, and ensure efficient utilisation of state land for public welfare and economic development.
The cabinet also approved the recommendations of the Minimum Wages Board for a 7.5 percent increase in the minimum wages across the province with effect from July 1, 2026.
Under the revised rates, the minimum wage for unskilled workers has been increased from Rs40,000 to Rs43,000 per month, while wages for semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled workers have also been enhanced accordingly. The decision applies to workers employed in notified industrial and commercial establishments across Sindh.
The cabinet also approved the budget of the Peoples Community Health Services Company for 2026-27, including Rs200 million as seed money and a grant of Rs2.723 billion. Established under Section 42 of the Companies Act, 2017, the company aims to strengthen community-level primary healthcare services and expand coverage to underserved populations.
The cabinet also approved the appointment of Saher Iftikhar Khan, PAS (BS-19), as the CEO of the company in place of the earlier nominee and authorised the CM to approve future changes in the company’s board of directors.
The cabinet also approved the import of 0.5 MMT of wheat through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to meet the province’s food security requirements for 2026-27.
The cabinet was informed that Sindh is expected to face a wheat shortfall of around 1.69 MMT, with total wheat availability estimated at 4.84 MMT against an annual consumption demand of 6.53 MMT. The cabinet approved the import of 0.5 MMT wheat through the TCP under the framework being coordinated by the federal government.
The cabinet also approved a one-year extension in the contractual services of employees working in the education and medical departments of the Lyari Town Municipal Corporation effective from March 11, 2026, to March 10, 2027. The decision covers 254 contractual employees, including 176 employees of the education department and 78 employees of the medical department.
The cabinet also approved the hiring of the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) as consultant for the design, preparation of bidding documents, and construction supervision of Phase-I of the Lyari Transformation Project.
The decision follows recommendations of the project’s steering committee, which reviewed the consultancy terms and found them appropriate in view of the scale and complexity of the project.
Nespak had previously conducted detailed surveys and prepared the feasibility study for the project, which forms part of the broader Lyari Town Infrastructure Development Plan 2040.
The cabinet also reviewed proposals relating to off-road vehicle de-registration, motor dealer holding-period relief and Motor Third-Party Insurance continuity at ownership transfer. Shah directed the excise, taxation & narcotics control department to undertake the necessary amendments in the relevant law and resubmit the proposals to the cabinet for final consideration.
The cabinet also approved the restructuring of the PPP Unit into a wholly government-owned private limited company to strengthen institutional capacity, improve project delivery and enhance financial sustainability.
The proposed entity, to be incorporated under the Companies Act, 2017, would serve as the successor institution of the existing PPP Unit and be responsible for PPP policy development, governance, project facilitation and portfolio management. The move is aimed at addressing challenges related to weak departmental PPP nodes, increasing project complexity, human resource retention and portfolio oversight.
The cabinet also approved the establishment of the company with an authorised capital of Rs8 billion and paid-up capital of Rs2 billion. It also sanctioned an out-of-budget provision of Rs500 million as seed money for operational and establishment expenses.
The finance department was authorised to complete all incorporation formalities, while the current director general of the PPP Unit will serve as the first CEO of the company.
The cabinet also approved proposed amendments to the Sindh Public-Private Partnership Act to provide legal backing for the restructuring, strengthen PPP governance and improve monitoring of PPP projects across the province.
The restructuring is expected to enhance Sindh’s ability to attract private investment, accelerate infrastructure and development projects, and create a more sustainable and efficient PPP framework.
The cabinet also approved the extension of the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) programme to GB for the reconstruction of 196 flood-damaged houses at an estimated cost of Rs376.3 million.
The cabinet authorised the SPHF to undertake validation, enrolment and disbursement processes based on the list provided by the GB government, and approved the engagement of the National Rural Support Programme as the implementing partner. The initiative follows Sindh’s ongoing support for flood rehabilitation in Balochistan, where reconstruction of 4,500 houses is already under way.
The cabinet also approved the imposition of toll on the 135km Nawabshah-Ranipur (Mehran) Highway, primarily targeting heavy and commercial vehicles, to generate dedicated resources for road maintenance and rehabilitation.
The cabinet was informed that the highway, which connects the Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushahro Feroze and Khairpur districts, carries more than 22,000 vehicles daily and is undergoing dualisation at an estimated cost of Rs41 billion.
The proposed tolling system is expected to generate gross annual revenue of around Rs2.14 billion, with net annual revenue estimated at Rs1.48 billion after operational expenses.
The generated funds will be utilised exclusively for the operation, maintenance, rehabilitation and further improvement of the highway and related infrastructure. The cabinet approved the adoption of a class-based fixed toll rate system, and the implementation of the proposed toll collection and revenue management mechanism.
The cabinet also approved the composition of four high-level task forces constituted to provide strategic advice on long-term reforms in key sectors: economy, finance and industry; water; climate change; and AI, digital transformation and virtual assets. The task forces comprise leading economists, academics, industry experts, environmental specialists and technology professionals from Pakistan and abroad.
The cabinet also approved the proposal to restore the traditional name of the works & services department as the communication & works department by amending the relevant provisions of the Sindh Government Rules of Business, 1986.
The cabinet also endorsed the constitution of the Board of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Institute for Democracy & Federalism, established under the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Institute for Democracy and Federalism Act, 2024.
The cabinet approved the nomination of Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah as the board’s chairperson and endorsed the inclusion of representatives from the family of Benazir Bhutto, the academia, the intelligentsia, the civil society and the relevant government departments.
The cabinet also approved a proposal to designate deputy commissioners across Sindh as administrators of their respective districts for the protection, regulation and management of evacuee trust properties under the Sindh Evacuee Trust Properties (Management & Disposal) Act, 2021.
The cabinet also approved the proposed amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and the Sindh Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2025, for their introduction in the PA. The amendments are aimed at streamlining the administration and functioning of anti-terrorism courts to ensure expeditious disposal of terrorism-related cases.
