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Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Budget FY26: Sindh CM takes step aimed at finalising proposals, allocations
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has begun budget meetings to finalise the development proposals and their allocations for the next financial year and has also made significant decisions by launching an austerity drive to conserve funds for development initiatives. In this regard, two separate meetings of the Finance and Planning & Development departments were held at CM House. These meetings were attended by Minister P&D Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi, Special Secretary Finance Asghar Memon, and Member P&D Fatah Tunio. The chief minister presiding over a meeting directed the Planning & Development Department to finalise the ADP, stressing that rehabilitation of flood-damaged infrastructure must be prioritised in the upcoming budget. He further instructed that canal and watercourse lining projects should also be included in the new development schemes. Highlighting the importance of agricultural growth, Murad Ali Shah called for schemes that focus on improving agricultural output and productivity. 'It is time to pay special attention to the agricultural sector,' he said. Shah reiterated the government's ongoing commitment to the health sector, emphasising the need to enhance healthcare facilities across the province. On education, he stressed the urgency of upgrading primary schools to the elementary level and giving focused attention to both formal and non-formal education systems. The CM also directed that multiple schemes be introduced for technical and higher education and called for projects that promote sports and healthy activities for youth. The meeting marked a major step in shaping the Sindh government's priorities for the next fiscal year, focusing on rebuilding infrastructure, boosting agriculture, improving healthcare and education, and supporting youth development. However, presiding over anther meeting he highlighted the government's efforts to enhance financial resources and expressed optimism that provincial tax collection agencies would meet their targets. Main projects identified for accelerated funding in the new fiscal year include the K-IV water supply project, the Shahrah-e-Bhutto expressway, and ongoing transport schemes in Karachi. The Shahrah-e-Bhutto project, a 38.75-kilometre expressway, is seen as a transformative initiative aimed at improving urban connectivity and reducing congestion. Murad Shah also called for the introduction of new schemes to expand the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and stressed the importance of fiscal prudence. He advocated for cost-saving measures to ensure that savings are redirected towards development activities. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Budget: Sindh CM takes step aimed at finalising proposals, allocations
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has begun budget meetings to finalise the development proposals and their allocations for the next financial year and has also made significant decisions by launching an austerity drive to conserve funds for development initiatives. In this regard, two separate meetings of the Finance and Planning & Development departments were held at CM House. These meetings were attended by Minister P&D Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi, Special Secretary Finance Asghar Memon, and Member P&D Fatah Tunio. The chief minister presiding over a meeting directed the Planning & Development Department to finalise the ADP, stressing that rehabilitation of flood-damaged infrastructure must be prioritised in the upcoming budget. He further instructed that canal and watercourse lining projects should also be included in the new development schemes. Highlighting the importance of agricultural growth, Murad Ali Shah called for schemes that focus on improving agricultural output and productivity. 'It is time to pay special attention to the agricultural sector,' he said. Shah reiterated the government's ongoing commitment to the health sector, emphasising the need to enhance healthcare facilities across the province. On education, he stressed the urgency of upgrading primary schools to the elementary level and giving focused attention to both formal and non-formal education systems. The CM also directed that multiple schemes be introduced for technical and higher education and called for projects that promote sports and healthy activities for youth. The meeting marked a major step in shaping the Sindh government's priorities for the next fiscal year, focusing on rebuilding infrastructure, boosting agriculture, improving healthcare and education, and supporting youth development. However, presiding over anther meeting he highlighted the government's efforts to enhance financial resources and expressed optimism that provincial tax collection agencies would meet their targets. Main projects identified for accelerated funding in the new fiscal year include the K-IV water supply project, the Shahrah-e-Bhutto expressway, and ongoing transport schemes in Karachi. The Shahrah-e-Bhutto project, a 38.75-kilometre expressway, is seen as a transformative initiative aimed at improving urban connectivity and reducing congestion. Murad Shah also called for the introduction of new schemes to expand the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and stressed the importance of fiscal prudence. He advocated for cost-saving measures to ensure that savings are redirected towards development activities. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Water board asked to fast-track execution of K-IV project
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while presiding over a meeting to review the progress of the K-IV Augmentation Project, expressed serious concern over a burst water line at Karachi University and instructed the water board to repair it and restore the water supply immediately. 'This is unacceptable, that every day one or the other water transmission line bursts, ultimately the citizens have to suffer, therefore it must be resolved once and for all,' he said. The meeting held at the CM House was attended by Energy Minister Nasir Shah, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Planning and Development Chairman Najam Shah, Local Government Secretary Khalid Hyder Shah, MD Water Board Ahmad Ali Siddiqui, and Project Director KWSSIP. At the outset of the meeting, the Chief Minister expressed his dissatisfaction and directed the water board to conduct a comprehensive survey of all old lines and develop a five-year plan for their repair/replacement. 'The water board needs to strengthen its system,' he emphasised. K-IV Augmentation: Reviewing the progress on the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV Augmentation Works, KWSSIP-II), the Chief Minister emphasised the strategic importance of the project in addressing Karachi's chronic water shortage and urged all relevant agencies to remove administrative bottlenecks immediately. The chief minister directed the Local Government Department to expedite the tendering process and secure all necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCS) to ensure that physical work on the Rs 71.8 billion K-IV Augmentation Project begins within the next three months. The K-IV Augmentation Project is being implemented by the Local Government Department with financial support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the World Bank, and the Sindh government. The project comprises multiple packages, including Package A: Water transmission main from Reservoir 1 to Y-Junction. Package B1: Transmission from Reservoir R2 to Federal Urdu University. Package B2: From Federal Urdu University to Gul Bai, and Package C: From R3 to Banaras, and a 2.7 km common corridor shared with the Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (KBRT) system The project's design, was finalised and reviewed by the international Austrian firm, in line with Planning Commission directives. Bid documents were prepared and are being updated by the supervision consultant. The process for hiring a Construction Supervision Consultant (CSC) has already begun. The Technical and Financial Proposals' Technical Evaluation Report (TER) was approved by the World Bank. The Financial Opening took place last month, and the Contract Evaluation Report (CER) was shared with the World Bank. Following No Objection Letter (NOL) clearance, the letter of award was issued on May 6, and the contract, v is expected to be signed on May 12, 2025. To facilitate the project, 18 different agencies were approached for NOCS. So far, NOCs have been secured from seven agencies. Chief Minister Shah reiterated his commitment to accelerating the delivery of the K-IV Augmentation Project to ensure equitable access to clean drinking water for Karachi's growing population. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Time of India
Pahalgam terror attack: Many tourists still stranded, ‘overbooked' J&K empties out
Pahalgam terror attack in J&K SRINAGAR: After exulting over an overbooked summer, travel operators are gearing up for a wave of cancellations following the attack in Pahalgam, expected to hit one of biggest economic lifelines of the region. Multiple industry insiders said they could not recall a major terrorist strike so openly targeting tourists from a specific community. "We are getting a lot of calls for cancellation," said Nasir Shah of Indian Association of Tour Operators. Tourists from Maharashtra and Rajasthan, stranded after the attack, were keen to leave the UT soon. "The roads are deserted, and the Army is everywhere. We're safe, but others don't want to stay another day. I'm not sure how everyone will manage return flights," said Pune-based lawyer Vijaysinh Thombare, currently in Srinagar with his wife NCP functioanry Rupali Patil-Thombare. A local hotelier, whose hotel was fully booked, said: "They panicked and didn't want to stay." However, they couldn't proceed to Jammu due to the Srinagar-Jammu highway being closed because of landslides.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tour operators report a rash of cancellations
NEW DELHI: The attack on tourists in Pahalgam Tuesday a shadow over J&K's overbooked summer season, with travel operators bracing for a wave of cancellations and a slump in one of the region's biggest economic lifelines. Multiple industry leaders said they could not recall a major terrorist strike so openly targeting tourists from a specific community. The shock has been immediate. "We are getting a lot of calls for cancellation," said Nasir Shah of Indian Association of Tour Operators . The UT has seen record-breaking tourism numbers since the pandemic. Soaring demand pushed airfares and hotel rates to all-time highs. A return flight between Delhi-Srinagar has hovered around Rs 24,000, with the lowest fares rarely dropping below Rs 17,000-18,000. Hotels saw similar spikes, with Gulmarg's Khyber charging Rs 70,000 a night and Srinagar's largest five-star property priced between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000, said a hotel operator.
