Rs10bn for new water pipeline in DHA, Karachi

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a high-level provincial cabinet meeting at the CM House on Monday, where a series of transformative development projects aimed at tackling Karachi's water crisis, strengthening the agriculture sector, promoting industrial growth, and enhancing regional connectivity were approved.

The cabinet deliberated on a 52-point agenda and approved most items with implementation strategies. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and senior officials from concerned departments.

Rs10.56b interest-free loan for water supply to DHA

To address the acute water shortage in Karachi-particularly in DHA, which currently receives only 4-5 MGD-the cabinet approved an interest-free loan of Rs10.56 billion for the Water and Sewerage Corporation. The scheme includes laying a 36km dedicated pipeline from Dumlottee to DHA, alongside construction of a pumping station, forebay, and filtration plant. Originally approved by the WSC board in February 2025, CM Murad directed its completion within 11 months to meet the growing city population's sustainable water needs.

Major overhaul of agricultural income tax rules

The cabinet approved the Sindh Agricultural Income Tax Rules 2025, introducing structured registration, e-filing, and record-keeping protocols. Landowners will be required to register with the Sindh Revenue Board via Form AIT-01 and file returns using AIT-03 along with payment proof. Records must be maintained in Urdu, Sindhi, or English. Provisions allow for carrying forward losses due to natural disasters. A sub-committee comprising ministers for agriculture, law, and works has been tasked with finalizing the draft.

E-Stamp Rule Amendments

In a step toward digital governance, the cabinet approved amendments to the Sindh E-Stamp Rules 2020, eliminating the need for physical stamp paper in areas with electronic registration systems. The digital system is already operational in 51 registrar offices, expediting property transactions through electronic stamp verification and integrated e-registration.

Flood Relief

Emergency flood aid allocation was raised from Rs21.56bn to Rs27.67bn, benefiting 151,147 verified farmers affected by the 2022 floods. While disbursements have been made in three phases, Rs6.1bn is earmarked for remaining cases. An additional Rs2.37bn in savings will be utilized under the Benazir Hari Card to support agriculture.

Benazir Hari Card

The cabinet allowed the Agriculture Department to sign an MoU with Sindh Bank for the rollout of the Benazir Hari Card, which offers farmers: subsidies on agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizer, pesticides); soft-term agricultural loans; financial assistance in natural disasters; priority access to solar tube wells and crop insurance. As of now, 237,125 farmers have registered, with 88,871 verified and cleared for next steps.

A Vision for Sustainable Progress

Reaffirming his government's commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, CM Murad said the newly approved projects form the foundation for long-term socio-economic stability. He directed all departments to ensure transparency, inter-departmental coordination, and timely execution. "These wide-ranging decisions reflect the Sindh government's strategic approach of linking infrastructure development with social equity and economic opportunity," he said.