In a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday, the Sindh Cabinet approved a package of billions of rupees for extensive development schemes covering infrastructure, education, and social welfare across the province.
According to the Chief Minister’s spokesperson, the cabinet reviewed and endorsed the recommendations of the Cabinet Committee on Finance (CCF) during the meeting held at the Chief Minister’s House.
A major portion of the funds, over 5.4 billion rupees, was allocated for the renovation of roads and infrastructure. This includes an amount of 2.55 billion rupees for the repair and beautification of the 30.5 km long Malir to Ghaggar Phatak dual carriageway.
An additional 888.244 million rupees were allocated for the rehabilitation of roads and bridges affected by the last flood, while 1.97 billion rupees were set aside for the widening and repair of various routes, including the Talhar to Tando Bago and Naushahro Feroze Road to Mehran Highway link road.
In the education sector, the cabinet endorsed 6.63 billion rupees for the Phase-II project of the Thar Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology (NED Campus). A further 100 million rupees were approved for the construction of a modern multipurpose stadium at St. Patrick’s School in Karachi.
The cabinet also gave in-principle approval for 3.4 billion rupees for the reimbursement of student fees from previous years to government institutions. Chief Minister Shah directed that these concessions be managed through a transparent system, stating, “Fee concessions should only be given to deserving and needy students.”
Under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the cabinet allocated 4.33 billion rupees for 98 different schemes and approved a grant of 50 million rupees for the Aurat Foundation.
Development projects for Sukkur and Rohri were also approved, including improvements such as the installation of RO plants, streetlights, and paver blocks in Union Council Janoji and Pir Akhlas Shah. It was decided that 25% of the funds for these projects would be released initially.
Furthermore, the provincial government approved three major studies related to the regional drainage system, including the Indus River, SCARP, and LBOD, and the development of small dams. The Chief Minister directed that complete transparency be ensured before the release of any flood relief funds.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and other relevant officials who deliberated on the comprehensive development agenda.