KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has started budget meetings to prepare development plans and allocate funds for the next financial year. He has also launched a plan to save money for development projects.
According to the details, two meetings were held on Wednesday at the CM House with the finance and planning and development (P&D) departments.
These meetings included P&D Minister Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, and others.
In one meeting, the chief minister instructed the P&D department to finalize the Annual Development Programme (ADP). He said that repairing flood-damaged infrastructure should be a priority in the upcoming budget.
He stressed the need to cut non-development spending and increase funds for development projects. He suggested ways to save money and use those savings for development work.
Reports says that he spoke about the government’s efforts to improve financial resources and expressed hope that provincial tax collection agencies would meet their goals.
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He also asked for new projects to expand the ADP and emphasized the need for careful financial management. He directed that canal and watercourse lining projects be included in the new development plans.
The chief minister highlighted the importance of agriculture and called for projects to improve agricultural output and productivity. He said it was time to focus on the agricultural sector.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving healthcare facilities across the province.
For education, he emphasized upgrading primary schools to the elementary level and paying attention to both formal and non-formal education systems.
He also directed the inclusion of projects for technical and higher education and called for initiatives to promote sports and healthy activities among youth.
The meeting was an important step in setting the Sindh government’s priorities for the next fiscal year, focusing on rebuilding infrastructure, supporting agriculture, improving healthcare and education, and promoting youth development.
Key projects prioritized for faster funding in the new fiscal year include the K-IV water supply project, the Shahrah-i-Bhutto Expressway, and ongoing transport projects in Karachi.
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This meeting lays the groundwork for the Sindh government’s budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, showing a focus on balanced financial management and investment in infrastructure and public services.
In another news, Popular ride-hailing services such as Careem, InDrive, and Yango may soon become more expensive for commuters in the federal capital, as the government plans to impose a 4% sales tax in the upcoming 2025–26 federal budget.
