‘Sindh Vision’

For years, a lazy narrative has circulated in Islamabad and on social media: that Sindh is stagnant, that governance here is broken, and that nothing ever really changes. As someone representing the Sindh government, I hear this all the time. But last Thursday, the mood in the federal capital shifted.

When Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took the stage at Aiwan-e-Sadr to present “Sindh Vision,” it wasn’t just a political briefing; it was a statement of confidence. By hosting this event in Islamabad, before an audience of foreign diplomats, international organizations, business heavyweights, philanthropists and media representatives we invited scrutiny. We did so because we knew the facts on the ground finally outweigh the noise on the airwaves.

It is time to look at the numbers, because what is happening in this province isn’t just “good governance” it is a blueprint for how a devolved federation should work.

Take the housing initiative. After the devastating floods of 2022, the easy route would have been to hand out tents and cash. Instead, we embarked on a project that has now set a world record: the construction of 2.1 million climate-resilient homes. As mentioned in the briefing, 750,000 of these are already complete. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it is about dignity. We are rehousing the most vulnerable in structures that won’t collapse when the next rain comes, while creating nearly a million jobs in the process.

This ethos of protection extends to our agrarian backbone. We are managing the world’s largest irrigation system and have constructed over 24,000 kilometers of new roads to ensure market connectivity. But infrastructure means little without supporting the people who use it. Through the Benazir Hari Card and aRs 56 billion wheat support package, we are backing nearly 200,000 farmers. Similarly, the Benazir Mazdoor Card has brought over 202,000 workers into the safety net. We are securing the food basket of the country and the hands that harvest it.

Then there is the energy sector, where Sindh has quietly become the country’s powerhouse. For decades, naysayers said Thar coal was a pipe dream. Today, that “dream” is pumping over 2,600 MW into the national grid, powering industries as far away as Faisalabad. We are also generating 75 percent of Pakistan’s wind energy. But we are looking downward, too at the common man. Through our solarization drive, we are providing free power to low-income families and solarizing over 200,000 schools and health centers. We are solving the energy crisis from the bottom up.

In social services, we have moved beyond rhetoric to tangible results. In education, the number of universities in Sindh has doubled under the PPP’s tenure. In healthcare, we decided that a poor man’s heart attack shouldn’t be a death sentence. Institutions like the NICVD and SIUT are not just buildings; they are sanctuaries where world-class treatment is free. This is what the 18th Amendment looks like in practice: tailored solutions that save lives without waiting for a cheque from Islamabad.

This record of delivery has opened the door to a new era of investment. We understand that government resources alone cannot meet every need, which is why Sindh has pioneered the most successful Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in the country. This isn’t just bureaucratic talk; it is a proven mechanism that has built bridges, highways, and hospitals. The business leaders present at the Aiwan-e-Sadr weren’t there for a photo-op; they were there because they know their capital is safe and productive in Sindh. We have created an ecosystem where the private sector is a true partner in development. For investors looking at Pakistan, Sindh offers a stable legal framework and a government willing to share the risk. From logistics to clean water, the opportunities are vast, and we are open for business.

Of course, challenges remain. No government is perfect. But the constant “hidden agendas” to roll back the 18th Amendment feel like a punishment for our success. Critics question our capacity, but look at the ledger. The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has grown tax collection from a mere Rs 28 billion in 2011 to Rs 307 billion in 2024. We have vastly outperformed federal machinery in this regard. This is why Chairman Bilawal’s call to devolve the sales tax on goods isn’t a power grab—it is a logical step to bridge the national fiscal gap using a proven provincial model.

The “Sindh Vision” event was an attempt to bridge the gap between perception and reality. We are building a Sindh that is resilient, modern, and compassionate. We don’t expect the critics to disappear overnight, but we do hope that, eventually, the facts will speak louder than the noise.

Sindh is rising. It is time the rest of the country acknowledged.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026