Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday presided over a meeting of the provincial cabinet at CM House, which approved a wide range of measures to support farmers, strengthen food security, improve public service delivery, enhance energy regulation, reinforce security infrastructure, revive industrial investment and streamline institutional governance.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and relevant secretaries.
The Chief Minister directed the concerned departments to ensure that cabinet decisions were implemented without delay, particularly those relating to wheat availability, support to growers, potable water supply, security coordination and investment promotion.
He said the provincial government remained committed to protecting farmers, ensuring availability of essential commodities at affordable prices, strengthening public institutions and creating an enabling environment for investment and economic growth.
The Cabinet reviewed the wheat stock situation in detail and was informed that Sindh had total wheat availability of 4. 84 million metric tonnes (MMT), including 4. 70 MMT of 2026 production and 0. 14 MMT of carry-forward stock.
The cabinet was informed that administrative action against hoarding had improved wheat visibility. Hidden or unaccounted wheat stocks, estimated at 1. 18 MMT in July, had declined to around 0. 70 MMT by mid-August, while approximately 0. 19 MMT had been confiscated during enforcement operations. Inspection teams had visited more than 800 locations, with total seizures of undeclared or hoarded wheat reported at 257, 738 tonnes.
The cabinet approved procurement of 223, 455 tonnes of PASSCO wheat available at various locations in Sindh at Rs 4, 150 per 40 kilograms.
The cabinet also considered measures to improve flour availability. It approved increasing the stock retention limit for functional flour mills from one month to three months of grinding capacity.
The cabinet further approved, subject to concurrence of the Finance Department and a strict monitoring mechanism, the utilisation of 56, 729 tonnes of wheat seized from flour mills in Sukkur and Larkana divisions for production of atta for local consumption. The mills would be required to maintain the ex-mill price of atta at Rs112 per kilogram and comply with the prescribed grinding and supply mechanism.
The Chief Minister directed the Food Department and district administration to maintain strict vigilance against hoarding, ensure transparent monitoring of wheat stocks and take action against illegal movement and concealment of wheat.
The cabinet reviewed the anticipated increase in DAP fertiliser prices for the Rabi 2026-27 season due to international supply-chain disruptions and higher freight costs.
After detailed deliberation, the cabinet approved a subsidy package for wheat growers owning up to 25 acres, along with fresh farmer registrations, verification through land revenue authorities and revalidation of existing registrations. Funds required for registration and verification were also approved.
The Chief Minister said the government would not allow international market pressures to place an undue burden on small and medium farmers. ‘Our farmers must not bear the burden of international market shocks. The Sindh government will continue to support small and medium growers to safeguard food security and sustain agricultural productivity. ‘
The Chief Minister constituted a committee comprising Food Minister Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Special Assistant Rahjvir Singh and Culture Minister Zulfiqar Shah to recommend the DAP subsidy and wheat support price and formulate a mechanism for the next procurement cycle.
The committee was directed to finalise criteria for the next procurement price and submit its recommendations to the Cabinet within two weeks.
The cabinet approved the terms and conditions for the Chairman and Members of the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (SEPRA), including a four-year tenure with eligibility for reappointment for one additional term.
The cabinet was informed that SEPRA had made progress in developing regulatory frameworks, institutional capacity, stakeholder engagement and digital systems since its establishment.
The Chief Minister said an effective and independent regulatory framework was essential for Sindh’s energy sector and directed SEPRA to facilitate investment while ensuring efficient and reliable power services.
He also directed that the official vehicles provided to the Chairman and members of SEPRA should be electric vehicles, in line with the government’s clean-energy and environmental objectives.
The cabinet approved a policy allowing civil servants selected through open competition for special pay scale positions to serve in such positions without resigning from government service, taking early retirement or proceeding on extraordinary leave.
The policy aligns Sindh’s framework with the federal government’s policy and protects the service continuity and pensionary rights of officers.
The Chief Minister said the decision would help attract experienced professionals to important government positions while retaining institutional expertise and service continuity.
The cabinet approved the establishment of the Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (PIFTAC) headquarters, including a state-of-the-art Data Centre, Nerve Centre, AI Hub and upgraded field coordination rooms.
An additional Rs441. 9 million was sanctioned to meet the project’s funding shortfall. The Cabinet also approved exemption from procurement rules for engaging the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) on a government-to-government basis for execution of the project.
The Chief Minister said the strengthened PIFTAC would significantly improve intelligence coordination, threat assessment and the use of technology for maintaining peace and security across Sindh.
He directed the concerned departments to ensure timely completion of the facility and effective coordination among law-enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The cabinet approved the draft Service Level Agreement (SLA) between District Councils and the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) for implementation of the STAR WASH Programme in flood-affected districts.
Under the agreement, SPHF would plan, construct, operate and maintain WASH infrastructure for six years. The first phase would cover Khairpur, Jamshoro, Badin and Naushahro Feroze, benefiting an estimated 1. 2 to 1. 5 million people.
The Cabinet authorised the SPHF Chief Executive Officer to execute the SLA with participating District Councils following approval of the relevant District Council resolutions.
The Chief Minister emphasised that WASH interventions should be implemented efficiently and that the programme should ensure sustainable access to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in underserved rural communities.
The Cabinet approved the takeover of operation and maintenance of the 193-kilometre Naukot – Mithi – Islamkot – Nangarparkar-Chelhar water supply system by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) with the consent of the local council.
The decision was taken in view of the limited technical and financial capacity of the concerned local councils to operate and maintain the bulk transmission network.
The cabinet agreed in principle to provide a separate OandM allocation and funds for necessary rehabilitation and repairs to restore the system’s full operational capacity.
The Chief Minister directed PHED to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the pipeline, reservoirs and allied infrastructure and ensure equitable and uninterrupted potable water supply to Mithi, Chelhar, Islamkot, Nangarparkar and adjoining villages.
CM constituted a committee under Minister Local Government Nasir Shah to assess the water requirement of the area, Naukot, Mithi, Islamkot and Chelhar so that water could be arranged accordingly.
Concluding the meeting, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed all departments to ensure time-bound implementation of cabinet decisions, with particular attention to food security, farmer support, water supply, security coordination and investment projects.
He reiterated that the Sindh government would continue to prioritise the welfare of farmers and rural communities, strengthen essential public services, modernise government institutions and create conditions conducive to investment and employment.
The Chief Minister stressed that cabinet approvals should translate into visible improvements on the ground and directed the concerned ministers and secretaries to personally monitor implementation and submit progress reports where required.
