A new water pipeline in Karachi’s DHA will cost Rs. 10 billion.
On Monday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over a high-level provincial cabinet meeting at the CM House, where a number of ground-breaking development projects were approved with the goals of addressing Karachi’s water crisis, bolstering the agricultural sector, encouraging industrial growth, and improving regional connectivity.
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.
Rs10.56 billion interest-free loan for DHA’s water supply
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
With its introduction of organized registration, electronic filing, and record-keeping procedures, the Sindh Agricultural Income Tax Rules 2025 were approved by the cabinet. Landowners must register using Form AIT-01 with the Sindh Revenue Board and submit returns using Form AIT-03 with proof of payment. Records must be maintained in Urdu, Sindhi, or English. Losses resulting from natural disasters can be carried forward thanks to provisions. The task of completing the draft has been assigned to a subcommittee that includes the ministers of works, law, and agriculture.
Amendments to the E-Stamp Rule
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. 51 registrar offices have already implemented the digital system, which speeds up real estate transactions by integrating e-registration and electronic stamp verification.
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
In order to implement the Benazir Hari Card, which provides farmers with financial aid in the event of a natural disaster, soft-term agricultural loans, priority access to solar tube wells, crop insurance, and subsidies on agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides), the cabinet approved the Agriculture Department’s signing of an MOU with Sindh Bank. 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.
