Sindh will present pro-people budget: CM
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday held a high-level Cabinet meeting with Ministers, Advisors, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and relevant secretaries to deliberate on provincial budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26.
The meeting underscored government's commitment to inclusive development, poverty alleviation, and sustainable progress in line with the directives of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Opening the session, Murad Shah said, 'I want to engage all cabinet members thoroughly in shaping the next budget to ensure it addresses the real needs of our people. Under Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's leadership, we have collected proposals from every district to make this budget representative and impactful.'
The CM outlined the core focus areas of the new budget, emphasising water supply and drainage, solar energy expansion, education, healthcare, agriculture, and industrial growth. 'This year (2024-25), we have not introduced any new schemes under the priority to complete ongoing projects,' he said.
He added that in the upcoming budget, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has issued instructions for launching new initiatives that bring tangible benefits to the people.
The important highlights from the meeting include continued rehabilitation efforts for flood-affected communities, repair of schools and hospitals, and launching new mega projects through Public-Private Partnerships to boost infrastructure and services, strengthening social protection programmes aimed at eradicating poverty and increasing budget allocations for repair and maintenance, as well as upgrading hospital equipment and completion of transport projects in Karachi to improve urban mobility.
Proposals given by the cabinet members include reducing non-development expenditures and empowering local governments to become financially self-reliant, introducing digital cash transfers with incentives to enhance social welfare delivery, expanding solid waste management and solar energy systems across the province, and constructing new bus stands in multiple districts to improve public transportation.
The CM also highlighted the importance of federal-provincial coordination, stating, 'We will finalise the budget based on the federal government's funding commitments (provincial share) and our provincial revenue targets to ensure fiscal responsibility and effectiveness.'
'After Eid, we will hold further meetings to finalise and approve the budget proposals. Our goal is to present a budget that is transparent, development-oriented, and focused on improving the lives of every Sindh resident,' the Chief Minister concluded.
This proactive approach signals Sindh's dedication to sustainable development, social equity, and efficient governance in the coming financial year.
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