- Murad accuses the center of neglecting Sindh’s development needs.
- Said that Sindh’s political and financial support is not guaranteed.
- Warns that the federal budget could face resistance if the province was unaware.
Sindh -chief Minister Murad Ali Shah strongly criticized the federal government for what he described as repeated negligence of the province’s development needs, warning that “funding and political support cannot be taken for granted”.
The Minister of Finance and Revenues Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the federal budget on Tuesday for the year 2025-20126 with a total expenditure of RS17.57 Billions, announcing rescue measures for the salaried class while global federal expenses are reduced by 7%.
Speaking on Saturday in Karachi, Shah said that the center had gone too far by dismantling the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD), a decision he called “unjust” and damaging local infrastructure planning.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in 2024 ordered the immediate abolition of disabled people after deteriorating performance in achieving his objectives.
“We are not a colony,” he said, urging Islamabad to treat the Sindh with the respect he deserves within the Federation.
Referring to the recent budgetary process, Shah clearly indicated that Sindh’s cooperation is conditional. “Bilawal Bhutto has already said: either give the Sindh its legitimate projects or forget our vote on the budget,” he warned.
“If the projects do not come to the Sindh, then go ahead and pass your budget without us,” added Shah, reiterating that the province did not tolerate being treated after the fact. “If we are treated like fine children, we know how to fight for our rights.”
In the budget presented earlier this week, the government allocated RS1 Billion for the Federal Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), similar to last year’s expense.
According to the budget document, around 30% of this allowance will be used for transport infrastructure projects.
The chief minister also responded to what he called a disinformation campaign surrounding the Shahrah-E-Bhutto project.
“Weird stories propagate. Someone even presented himself with a pistol claiming that the Dacoits were here and had fled,” he said, rejecting complaints as exaggerated and disruptive.
On the plans, Shah said that the Sindh government advanced its infrastructure objectives, including a main liaison route connecting the port of Karachi to Qayyumabad.
“Karachi’s business world is fully on board and supports this effort,” he noted.
He closed by defending the development file of the Pakistani peoples party, saying: “Whether others recognize it or not, people can see what we have done.”
