Chief Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah. PHOTO: Radio Pakistan
KARACHI:
The Sindh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, approved a wide range of financial, administrative and policy decisions covering education, culture, security, agriculture, climate action, infrastructure and social welfare, while directing all departments to ensure timely execution, transparency and measurable results.
The meeting, held at the CM House, was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary and secretaries concerned.
Presenting the report of the Cabinet Committee on Finance, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah presented several recommendations to the cabinet. The cabinet approved a Rs 190.211 million project for construction of a second floor at the girls’ hostel of NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi. The Chief Minister observed that expansion of student accommodation was essential to support women’s enrollment in higher education.
For heritage conservation, the cabinet approved Rs 109.5 million — 50 per cent of the total cost — for the preservation and restoration of St. Savior’s Church in Sukkur and St. Thomas’ Cathedral Church in Hyderabad, with the rest of the funds to be provided in the next financial year. “The heritage of Sindh belongs to all communities and must be preserved with care and dignity,” the chief minister said.
The cabinet also approved Rs 30 million for the Karachi Literature Festival and Rs 100 million for strengthening Sindh archives, including publication of rare manuscripts, conservation of old diaries, digitization of documents and establishment of an oral history gallery and archives.
Climate action and carbon finance
In a historic decision, the cabinet approved the establishment of the Sindh Climate Change Fund and the Sindh Climate Change Council. The fund will be financed primarily by a matching adjustment fee of 12 percent on net revenues from carbon credit sales.
The cabinet granted a one-year exemption from the Infrastructure Cess to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, recognizing its status as a not-for-profit cancer hospital and facilitating the importation of vital medical equipment.
