Concluding the general debate on the proposed Sindh 2025-26 budget in the Sindh Assembly on Monday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah lauded Pakistan’s unified national response during the recent conflict with India and highlighted the crucial diplomatic and political role played by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
He began the speech by congratulating the service chiefs, armed forces, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, provincial governments, media and political workers for their collective and coordinated effort. “Our national unity led us to success,” he said.
He paid special tribute to Bilawal describing him “a true national leader who effectively represented Pakistan on international platforms.” He said that from the Pahalgam incident until May 10, Bilawal acted as the face of Pakistan. “The federal government assigned him a vital diplomatic role-and he fulfilled it remarkably, particularly by engaging with the international media and visiting the United States and Europe,” the CM added.
Refuting criticism that his government was uninformed about security affairs, Shah clarified that a committee led by the chief secretary had been established from the outset and was operating following the national War Book. He also spoke of Sindh’s local responses to incidents during the conflict, including timely administrative actions after attacks in Ghotki, Sukkur and Bolhari.
Transitioning to broader geopolitical issues, Shah condemned ongoing Israeli atrocities in Palestine. The terrorist state of Israel had committed grave oppression against the Palestinians, he said and added, “Just recently, Israel launched an attack on Iran. I condemn this on behalf of the entire Assembly.”
The CM criticised the double standards of global powers, stating, “Even the United States has jumped into this war while claiming neutrality.”
Budget
Shah highlighted that Sindh’s development budget constituted approximately 30 per cent of the total budget, surpassing Punjab’s 23 per cent and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s 25.3 per cent. While acknowledging that Balochistan had a higher development budget, he noted that it was also governed by the PPP.
The CM pointed out that the federal government had initially promised Sindh Rs1.9 trillion for the ongoing financial year but subsequently revised it to Rs 1.796 trillion, resulting in a shortfall of Rs100 billion. He expressed concern over the low revenue collection so far and urged the federal government to release at least Rs237 billion.
Despite the federal government collecting 13 per cent more in taxes, the CM stated that Sindh’s revenue growth outpaced it with a 16 per cent increase in provincial collections. He outlined the revenue targets for the upcoming budget, emphasising the need for equitable tax rates across the province, from Karachi to rural areas like Dadu.
Shah also addressed the agricultural income tax, noting that the erroneous tax policies may lead to wheat imports this year. He announced a target of Rs8 billion for agricultural tax in the coming year, equating to a tax of Rs1,052 per acre. He contrasted this with Punjab’s target of Rs372 per acre and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s target of only Rs57 per acre for their cultivated land.
The CM unveiled a series of significant initiatives aimed at bolstering development across various sectors in Sindh for the upcoming year. He said the government aimed to achieve 100 per cent birth registration, ensuring that every citizen was accounted for from the outset of their lives.
In the education sector, he said, the establishment of cost centres had been initiated, which aimed at improving resource allocation and management within educational institutions. Furthermore, funding for the department supporting individuals with disabilities had been increased, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity.
The Sindh government planned to expand autism centres and other related departments to better serve the needs of affected individuals and their families, the CMsaid, adding that the Youth Development Centres were being established across all districts, with 19 already operational, aiming to provide young people with essential services and support.
The Sindh Institute of Child Health boasted the largest child emergency network globally, and a new Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation was under construction in Larkana emphasising the government’s focus on the healthcare infrastructure, he said.
Financial support for universities had been enhanced, alongside increased funding for solid waste management initiatives in Sindh, the CM said.
In terms of fiscal policy, he said, salaries had been raised by 10 to 12 per cent, while pensions had seen an increase of 8 per cent. The government had also abolished professional and entertainment taxes, as well as reduced various vehicle taxes, including those applicable to larger vehicles, he added.
Finally, the CM said, the provincial annual development initiatives were set at Rs 10.82 trillion, underscoring the government’s commitment to advancing infrastructure and public services in Sindh.
Shah asserted that he listened to 90 per cent of the speeches from the assembly members. He suggested that there may have been a targeted agenda against him, stating, “It was implied that only 11 provincial departments belong to the CM; however, I oversee a total of 45 departments.”
The CM contrasted his responsibilities with those of other provincial leaders, noting that the CM of Punjab managed 14 departments and that of Balochistan oversaw 20. He also remarked on the historical claims to Sindh’s territorial integrity, recalling that the first map of Sindh depicted regions including Makran and Rajasthan.
The CM presented photographs of pre-1947 Karachi, countering claims that the city was devoid of development after independence. He stated that Karachi was on the rise in 1947, which prompted Quaid-e-Azam to designate it as the capital.
To the opposition’s concerns that their schemes were not included in the budget, the CM invited the opposition to submit their proposals in writing, which they did, with 17 members providing schemes along with their costs.
A decision was made to incorporate constituency-specific schemes, with an assurance that no single member’s scheme would be excluded. He sought the leader of the opposition’s assistance against federal injustices, asserting that the federal government was using the opposition as a means to further its agenda.
The CM mentioned that the federal government had established a federal agency for the Green Line bus project in Karachi, which was also later supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's subsequent federal government. He expressed concerns about this arrangement and highlighted a promise made by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discontinue such practices for development works in Sindh.
Shah emphasised that the mandate did not allow a federal company to operate in Sindh without the provincial government’s consent. He affirmed that Rs500 million had been allocated for each constituency in Sindh, with members required to propose schemes within this budget.
Commenting on whether Karachi had been ignored in the Sindh budget, the CM pointed out that projects such as Shahrah-e-Bhutto and the M-9 Link Road were not included in the budget.
He addressed misconceptions circulated by the media regarding the absence of mega projects for Karachi, clarifying that Rs12 billion had been reserved for such schemes. He also refuted the claims that only schemes for Lyari and Malir had been included, asserting that all proposals are available for scrutiny.
He elaborated on the challenges faced by Karachi in terms of financial independence, contrasting it with other metropolitan areas that retain a significant portion of their revenue.
The CM mentioned that legal obstacles hinder Karachi’s ability to secure necessary funding.
In a notable achievement, the CM reported that plans for 20 million homes were under way to rehabilitate flood victims in Sindh, with 12 million currently under construction and six million completed.
He added that women had been granted ownership rights to these homes, ensuring empowerment alongside housing provision. In terms of minimum monthly wage, the current rate in Sindh stood at Rs 37,000, with proposals from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocating for an increase to Rs40,000. The CM argued for a minimum wage of Rs 42,000 to support the workers.
He addressed criticisms regarding provincial debt, affirming that Sindh was the only province with sound financial management, which attracted substantial loans from international institutions.
“India has propagated the notion that Pakistan is in ruins, and I urge our members not to echo such sentiments,” he cautioned, stressing the importance of unity against external narratives.
Shah reported that Sindh was on track to complete 1,460 uplift schemes this year, setting a record, and encouraged members to propose larger projects rather than smaller ones to make a more significant impact. He acknowledged that while some schemes had faced delays, efforts were under way to complete all ongoing projects. The CM emphasised the necessity of collaboration for the province’s development and thanked members from both sides for their patience in listening to him.