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Sindh CM Launches Budget Meetings, Austerity Drive for FY26
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah begins FY26 budget prep, prioritizing flood recovery, health, education & agriculture. Austerity measures introduced to boost development funding.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-14
Sindh CM Launches Budget Meetings, Austerity Drive for FY26

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has formally launched budget preparation meetings for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26, with a strong focus on rehabilitation of flood-damaged infrastructure, enhancing education and healthcare services, and boosting agricultural productivity.

In separate meetings held at the Chief Minister’s House with the Finance and Planning & Development departments, CM Shah reviewed and finalised key components of the Annual Development Programme (ADP). He also initiated an austerity drive to reduce non-development expenditures and redirect savings to development-focused schemes.

The federal government is expected to unveil its budget on June 2, while Sindh is moving ahead with its own comprehensive plans. The chief minister stressed the inclusion of canal and watercourse lining, and other agricultural improvement schemes, saying, “It is time to pay special attention to the agricultural sector.”

He called for significant enhancements in healthcare infrastructure and facilities across Sindh. On education, he instructed authorities to upgrade primary schools to elementary level and focus equally on formal and non-formal education systems. CM Shah also emphasised technical and higher education, and proposed new initiatives to promote sports and youth engagement.

Among the major projects slated for accelerated funding in FY26 are:

  • K-IV Water Supply Project
  • Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway, a 38.75-kilometre urban connectivity project
  • Ongoing public transport initiatives in Karachi
  • Reconstruction of flood-damaged schools
  • Water supply, drainage, and solar energy projects

The chief minister underscored that new schemes would be added to the ADP to address evolving developmental needs. He also stressed the importance of fiscal discipline and cost-saving strategies to ensure more funds are made available for critical infrastructure and social sector projects.

CM Shah noted that in the current fiscal year, Sindh's ADP stands at Rs493 billion, including Rs55 billion for district-level development. Out of 4,644 ongoing development schemes, at least 1,812 are expected to be completed by June 2025.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also directed that the federal budget for 2025-26 focus on relief for the common man, job creation, export-driven growth, and the promotion of agriculture, IT, SMEs, and the housing sector. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government and private sector to ensure national prosperity.

The alignment between federal and provincial budgetary goals, with an emphasis on transparency, digitisation, and poverty alleviation, reflects a unified effort to steer Pakistan toward long-term economic resilience.

 
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