Spokesperson for the Government of Sindh, Sukhdev Hemnani, said today that Sindh has emerged as Pakistan’s leading province in implementing the European Union’s GSP+ framework through wide-ranging reforms.
Highlighting labour sector reforms, Hemnani said that Sindh has led Pakistan in advancing workers’ rights and welfare. He noted that since 2008, the minimum wage in Sindh has increased from Rs6,000 to Rs40,000, with plans to raise it further in the upcoming budget. He said that labour protections have been extended to agricultural workers, industrial home-based workers, fisheries workers, and domestic workers through landmark legislation and welfare initiatives, including the Benazir Mazdoor Card, Benazir Hari Card, Sindh Home-Based Workers Act, Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Act, and legislation for the welfare of domestic workers.
Hemnani said that Sindh has adopted a comprehensive child protection framework, which has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in child labour, while recent legislation has prohibited the employment of children in domestic work. He said that the province has also launched a Rs14 billion Early Childhood Development Programme benefiting more than 885,000 children under the age of five through quarterly financial assistance to caregivers, growth monitoring, nutrition counselling, and school-readiness support.
He added that 3,000 non-formal education centres are being established across Sindh to bring out-of-school children into the education system.
He further noted that key health indicators have improved significantly, with infant mortality declining to 2.9 per cent compared to the national average of 5.4 per cent.
Reflecting on Sindh’s flagship initiatives, Hemnani said that the Peoples Poverty Reduction Programme has helped nearly 1.5 million women rise out of poverty and has transformed rural communities through targeted economic empowerment interventions.
He added that the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees Programme, covering 2.1 million flood-affected families, has emerged as the world’s largest public asset transfer initiative, with ownership rights of climate-resilient homes being granted in the names of women.
He further noted that Sindh remains the first province in Pakistan to legislate 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both males and females.
He also highlighted the establishment of Gender-Based Violence Courts, Anti-Rape Crisis Cells, and specialised investigation mechanisms, which have contributed to an increase in rape conviction rates from 5 per cent to 22 per cent.
Speaking on human rights reforms, Sukhdev Hemnani said that Sindh has approved a comprehensive Human Rights Policy and strengthened institutional mechanisms for implementing international treaty obligations.
Hemnani further stated that, to ensure the protection and welfare of minorities, more than 400 places of worship, including temples, churches, and gurdwaras, have been restored. He added that minority communities continue to benefit from scholarships, welfare programmes, and protective measures, including Minority Facilitation Desks in police stations, district-level interfaith harmony committees, and dedicated security arrangements for religious sites and festivals.
‘Under the leadership of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the Sindh Government will continue pursuing reforms to ensure inclusive and sustainable development for all segments of society,’ Hemnani reiterated.