Sindh unveils Rs1,018bn development plan for FY26

KARACHI: Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, while unveiling the annual budget in the provincial assembly, presented the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of his government for the fiscal year 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs1,018 billion.

The provincial ADP is set at Rs520 billion, complemented by district ADP, foreign project assistance (FPA), and federal PSDP (Public Sector Development Programme) grants. This ambitious development plan focuses on rehabilitation, infrastructure, social services and sustainable growth across the province.

Budgetary allocations include Rs520 billion reserved for the provincial ADP; Rs55 billion allocated for District ADP; Rs 366.72 billion to be received through FPA; and Rs76.28 billion to be allocated through the federal PSDP.

The ADP and the development portfolio of the Sindh government in the new financial year will focus on the rehabilitation of flood-damaged schools and infrastructure to enhance education access; upgrading of healthcare facilities for improved service delivery; promotion of climate-resilient agriculture and irrigation system restoration; provision of clean drinking water and sanitation to improve public health; strengthening road connectivity and urban infrastructure, including mass transit and Safe City projects in Karachi; implementation of green energy initiatives and renewable energy projects; poverty alleviation through nutrition support, community infrastructure and low-cost housing

The ADP includes 3,642 development schemes with Rs400.5 billion allocated -- 82.6 per cent for 3,161 ongoing projects and 17.4 per cent for 481 new initiatives. Special development initiatives have been allocated Rs119.5 billion.

Sector-wise allocations include Rs102.8 billion for education; Rs45.4 billion for health; Rs84 billion for irrigation; Rs132 billion for local government; Rs143 billion for works & services; Rs36.3 billion for energy (including Thar Coal and renewable); Rs22.5 billion for agriculture, livestock, fisheries; and Rs59.7 billion for transport & mass transit.

The government emphasises completing ongoing projects by allocating 80 per cent of the budget to them, while around 20 per cent is reserved for new schemes. Special priority is given to flood rehabilitation, energy initiatives, Karachi city projects, and sustainable development goals like clean water and sanitation.

The Planning and Development department will grant fast-track approval to SDG-related projects, with strict financial release strategies to ensure timely completion. The government also plans to extend the plan period of schemes expiring in June 2025 by one year to maintain the continuity of development initiatives.

The outgoing year’s financial performance saw the completion of 1,460 schemes, the highest in recent years, with significant progress in housing for flood-affected people -- over 400,000 houses were completed, and more are under construction. The total development expenditure reached Rs468 billion, with 73 per cent utilisation of released funds. In the last fiscal year 2024-25, the Sindh government did not allocate funds for new development schemes to ensure that there would be maximum focus, with the availability of all the financial resources, on the completion of the ongoing uplift projects.