KARACHI : Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting of the provincial cabinet that approved a wide-ranging set of policy decisions and development initiatives aimed at strengthening governance, boosting infrastructure, ensuring food security, and accelerating socioeconomic development across the province.
Senior Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon, accompanied by Home Minister Ziul Hassan Lanjar, briefed the media and shared the decisions taken by the cabinet.
He said the cabinet, in principle, approved a comprehensive survey of Katcha (riverine) areas to strengthen security, improve land governance, and support the government’s ongoing surrender policy.
The decision to survey Katcha (riverine) areas aims to address long-standing discrepancies in land records reported among revenue offices, the Forest Department, and various federal agencies. It will establish a digitised and accurate record of land ownership and usage, enabling authorities to clearly identify lawful occupants and curb illegal encroachments in sensitive riverine regions.
The project, estimated at Rs. 705 million, will be executed in collaboration with the Survey of Pakistan on a government-to-government basis. To fast-track implementation, the cabinet approved an exemption under the Sindh Public Procurement law, allowing immediate commencement of work.
Given the security situation in Larkana and Sukkur divisions, the timeline has been reduced from 25 months to 15.5 months, with multiple directorates operating simultaneously to expedite completion. The survey will employ modern geospatial technologies, including satellite imagery, GIS mapping, and advanced geodetic equipment.
The project will be carried out in two phases. The first phase will focus on boundary identification and GIS mapping of Katcha lands, while the second phase will involve detailed cadastral mapping of 624 dehs, demarcation of land parcels, and collection of ownership data.
To ensure transparency and financial discipline, the cabinet directed that the project be processed as a non-ADP scheme through the Planning & Development Department rather than as a grant-in-aid.
However, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah underscored that the initiative is critical for restoring writ of the state in Katcha areas, noting that clear identification of land ownership is essential to distinguish between legitimate settlers and criminal elements, thereby ensuring the success of the surrender policy and long-term peace in the region.
The cabinet also approved a comprehensive financing and execution plan for the power component of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV), removing key bottlenecks to ensure the timely completion of the vital water project.
To overcome financing constraints, the cabinet approved shifting from a loan-based model to a Grant-in-Aid mechanism for the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). A total grant of Rs. 13.9 billion was sanctioned to fund critical power infrastructure, including a 132 KV grid station, a 26-kilometre transmission line, an 11 KV distribution network, and a staff colony to support a 50MW electricity load approved by HESCO. Out of the total allocation, Rs. 3.47 billion will be released in the current financial year (2025–26) for Phase-I, while Rs. 10.43 billion will be allocated in the 2026–27 budget for Phase-II.
The Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC) will own, operate, and maintain the power infrastructure, with KWSC directed to immediately transfer funds to ensure smooth execution. To ensure sustainability, the Government of Sindh will initially bear monthly electricity payments of approximately Rs. 1 billion to HESCO and Rs. 74 million to STDC for operational costs. The decision is expected to significantly accelerate progress on the K-IV project, which is crucial for addressing Karachi’s long-standing water shortage and ensuring a reliable bulk water supply to the megacity.
The Cabinet also approved the Wheat Procurement Policy for the Rabi 2025–26 season, setting a target of 1.0 million metric tons (MMT) to ensure food security and maintain price stability across the province. It fixed the indicative wheat price at Rs. 3,500 per 40 kg, in line with international parity and estimated import costs. To promote transparency and directly benefit genuine farmers, procurement will be limited to over 332,000 growers registered under the Sindh Wheat Growers Support Program, who had earlier received DAP fertiliser subsidy.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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