Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday chaired a cabinet meeting to deliberate budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year 2025–26, placing emphasis on infrastructure development, public health, and solar energy expansion.
According to a statement issued by the CM House, the meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and senior secretaries. The agenda focused on aligning budget priorities with the vision of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for inclusive and sustainable development.
“I want to engage all cabinet members thoroughly in shaping the next budget to ensure it addresses the real needs of our people,” said CM Murad during the session.
He stated that the outgoing year (2024–25) focused on completing ongoing development schemes without introducing new ones. However, the 2025–26 budget will incorporate new initiatives that deliver “tangible benefits to the people,” following directives from PPP leadership.
Key priorities identified in the meeting include:
Continued rehabilitation of flood-affected areas
Expansion of solar energy systems across districts
Upgrades in hospital equipment and healthcare delivery
Completion of urban transport projects in Karachi
Development of water supply, drainage, and sanitation
Boosting education and agricultural development
To accelerate infrastructure development, the cabinet proposed launching new mega projects through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), particularly in underserved and high-impact areas.
Social protection programmes aimed at eradicating poverty are also expected to receive increased funding. Proposals included rolling out digital cash transfers with incentives to improve welfare distribution and expanding solid waste management coverage.
Cabinet members further recommended reducing non-development expenditures, empowering local governments for financial sustainability, and constructing new bus terminals in multiple districts to improve public transportation.
Highlighting the need for coordination with the federal government, CM Murad said, “We will finalise the budget based on the federal government’s funding commitments and our provincial revenue targets to ensure fiscal responsibility and effectiveness.”
He added that further consultations would be held after Eid to finalise and approve the budget proposals.
“Our goal is to present a budget that is transparent, development-oriented, and focused on improving the lives of every Sindh resident,” the chief minister concluded.
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