• Infant mortality rate stands at 2.9% half of Pakistan,
• Digitalisation of Sindh police; excise taxes,
KARACHI (Wed March 12): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presented a 171-page report detailing his government’s achievements from March 2024 to March 2025 saying that the Government has achieved remarkable progress over the past year through digital transformation, infrastructure development, and agricultural advancements.
He added that these initiatives have significantly impacted public services, business facilitation, and socio-economic growth.
The presentation, held at the CM House, highlighted key initiatives in healthcare, education, IT, water management, agriculture, and governance reforms, including the implementation of e-systems.
Sindh’s healthcare sector has witnessed significant progress and expansion over the past year, marked by groundbreaking initiatives, increased patient access, and technological advancements across numerous medical institutions.
Health Care: The NICVD Karachi reported treating a staggering 1.4 million patients, performing over 5,000 cardiac interventions and surgeries, and conducting tens of thousands of diagnostic and imaging services. The NICVD also expanded its free pediatric cardiac services to Quetta, demonstrating its commitment to reaching underserved populations.
The Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD) has also made strides, establishing a cardiac emergency center in Baldia Town and launching a stroke program in Sukkur. Notably, the SICVD has treated over 119,000 patients from outside Sindh, highlighting its regional importance.
The Institute of Medical Science, Gambat continues to excel in organ transplantation, completing over 200 liver transplants and 100 kidney transplants. The institute has also embraced advanced technology, launching robotic cath lab and joint replacement facilities.
Significant capacity enhancements were seen across the province. Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) operationalised a second robotic surgical system, while Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS) is in the process of procuring one. District Hospital Thatta was upgraded to a Teaching Hospital, and a 100-bed hospital at PIB Colony, Karachi, is set to become operational.
The Indus Hospital in Karachi is also undergoing a major expansion, receiving a Rs. 5 billion grant to increase its bed capacity.
Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has operationalised a linear accelerator for cancer treatment and reported significant numbers of liver, renal, and bone marrow transplants. The Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation (SIUT) has launched Pakistan’s first robotic center and PET CT unit, significantly enhancing cancer diagnostics and treatment capabilities.
The Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma has expanded its services, treating 70,000 patients and establishing new units for thoracic surgery, interventional radiology, and plastic surgery. Trauma and Emergency Response Centers have also been established in Larkana.
The Sindh Institute of Advanced Endoscopy and Gastroenterology introduced advanced procedures like Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) for liver tumors, while the Sindh Institute of Child Health & Neonatology (SICHN) operationalized new ICUs and pediatric units across Sindh.
JPMC received a new Cyberknife machine for cancer therapy and signed an agreement for operational autonomy of its radiation oncology section. The Sindh Integrated Emergency Health Services expanded its ambulance services and launched a hypertension project, with plans to add more emergency response vehicles and complete district headquarters hospitals.
Sindh Emergency Rescue Service 1122 refurbished emergency rooms in various district hospitals and established satellite stations on major highways for improved rescue coverage.
The ChildLife Foundation has transformed pediatric emergency care in Sindh, establishing numerous emergency and telemedicine centers and significantly reducing infant mortality rates.
“We have transformed pediatric emergency care in Sindh by establishing nine international-standard emergency centers and 106 telemedicine centers, significantly reducing infant mortality rates in Sindh to 2.9pc, compared to 5.4pc nationwide.
Quoting the Global health reports said that that Sindh’s public pediatric emergency facilities now match or surpass private hospitals in quality, with Sheikh Zayed Children’s Hospital Larkana and Civil Hospital Karachi achieving a 1.2 per cent mortality rate, better than the 1.4 pc at Aga Khan Hospital and far below the 6.3pc average in 19 similar countries.
The Mamta Program disbursed Rs. 2.6 billion through its Conditional Cash Transfer model, benefiting pregnant and lactating women.
The Emergency Livelihood Support program provided income support to vulnerable households, while the Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) offered scholarships and launched initiatives like STREAM and Middle TECH to enhance education and skills development.
These advancements demonstrate a strong commitment to improving healthcare access and quality in Sindh, with a focus on technological innovation and expanding services to reach all segments of the population.
Education & IT Development: In a bid to promote digital literacy, the People’s Information Technology Program awarded scholarships to 13,428 students in three universities. Of these, 1,171 students have completed their education, and 2,528 have secured jobs. Additionally, an IT boot camp trained 1,500 graduates, with 870 successfully becoming self-employed.
The government has also launched a major IT training initiative, training 3,000 university students and 200 teachers in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, and Shaheed Benazirabad.
Irrigation & Water Conservation: To improve water management, the Sindh Irrigation Department has established a Hydroinformatics Center, enabling data-driven decision-making. Additionally, 251 kilometers of watercourses have been lined to prevent water wastage and enhance agricultural irrigation.
Housing & Digital Governance: The Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) remains a flagship initiative. A new beneficiary portal has been launched, allowing flood-affected individuals to check their housing status using their CNIC number.
In another digital leap, a drone-based rural infrastructure mapping project is underway to identify underdeveloped areas and plan future projects.
Transport & Excise Department Digitization: The Excise & Taxation Department has introduced an online vehicle tax system, enabling motor vehicle tax payments, biometric verifications, and digital vehicle registration/transfers.
A new premium number plate system has also been introduced, generating Rs. 640 million, which has been used to construct 2,100 houses for flood victims.
Agriculture & Food Security: Efforts to modernize the agriculture sector include the distribution of 219 tube wells and 434 agricultural tools to farmers. Additionally, 100 solar-powered tube wells and a solarized cold storage unit have been installed.
To empower rural women, 900 women were provided with kitchen gardening kits, promoting self-sufficiency in food production.
Law & Order: The Sindh Police has taken significant steps to modernize law enforcement, introducing the S4 system with facial recognition cameras at 42 toll plazas to track criminals. Police records have also been fully digitized, streamlining operations such as license issuance and criminal database management.
The Sindh Smart Surveillance System (S4) has successfully established facial and number plate recognition cameras at 42 toll plazas across the province. The Sindh Police Highway Patrol (SPHP) has deployed a fleet of 100 vehicles and allocated a workforce of 2,000 personnel, along with the digitization of police records.
In the last three months, over 100,000 licenses have been issued online and delivered to citizens. This marks the first time in Pakistan that a separate budget of Rs 6 billion has been allocated specifically for Station House Officers (SHOs) and Sub-Inspectors (SIOs). Additionally, a dedicated 1715 helpline has been set up for advanced complaint management, and e-tagging has been implemented for 4,000 repeat offenders.
Infrastructure & Road Development: Infrastructure development has been a key focus, with the government completing 196 new roads and repairing 120 flood-damaged roads, covering a total of 2,500 kilometers. Projects such as the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Road, Sanghar-Umerkot Road, and Tharparkar-Alibandar Road have been completed, with a total investment of Rs. 53.5 billion.
Energy & Solar Initiatives: Under the vision of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Sindh government has launched an initiative to solarize schools, hospitals, and public buildings across Sindh.
Challenges & Future Plans: Looking ahead, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah warned of a potential wheat shortage in October-November due to lower-than-expected production. However, the government has assured that 1.3 million tons of wheat are currently in reserve.
Further plans include expanding digital services, improving business regulations, and launching online permits to attract investment and enhance ease of doing business in the province.
The Sindh government reiterated its commitment to technological advancement, infrastructure development, and economic growth, following the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
Hari Card: Empowering farmers with access to subsidized machinery, water conservation technologies, interest-free loans, and disaster relief, resulting in Rs. 10.110 billion disbursed to over 168,000 farmers post-2022 floods.
People’s Information Technology Program (PITP): Launched in September 2024, it has seen 11,071 graduates, with 2,528 securing jobs. The Sindh government allocated Rs. 500 million to support students in various divisions of the province.
CLICK Karobar App: The Sindh government has launched CLICK Karobar to guide business registration for 130 licenses and permits across 16 departments. Users can report registration issues, and an E-Licensing Portal for online approvals will be introduced.
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Scholarship: An endowment of Rs. 100 million aims to empower 10 female scholars annually from Sindh for higher education.
Hydro Informatics Centre (HIC): Established to improve water management in Sindh through advanced technology, data collection, and flood forecasting systems. The Center introduces a vertical touch screen-based, user-friendly solution for disseminating water information to various stakeholders, including farmers, academic students, and data analysts. The CM said that it provides repository for all irrigation and drainage data related to flow measurement, bathymetry surveys, ground surveys, and UAV 3D mapping services.
E-Procurement: The E-Pak Acquisition & Disposal System (EPADS) is introduced to streamline procurement processes, ensuring efficiency and transparency.
The Sindh Public Procurement Authority (SPPRA) has 5,658 registered Suppliers. It has published 1,408 Tenders, and completed 308 Procurements. It 883 procurements are in Progress.
Healthcare Innovations: Robotic-assisted procedures at PAQSJIMS Gambat reduce radiation exposure and improve precision in heart surgeries. NICVD Stroke Intervention Program offers free treatment to minimise neurological damage. Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Commissurotomy is now available at SICVD for mitral valve stenosis.
Cancer Treatment Advancements: Dow University’s Linear Accelerator (LINAC) provides precise radiation therapy. Third CyberKnife unit installed at JPMC allows reduced treatment time and offers free CyberKnife and Tomotherapy treatments.
New Surgical Services: SMBBIT Trauma Centre now provides advanced thoracic surgery for lung and diaphragm conditions.
Efforts for Reduction of Stunting and Malnutrition: Provision of goats, 10 poultry birds, and one feed bag has been made to each of the 3,350 beneficiaries, in addition to the 32,000 households previously assisted. Over 20,000 malnourished and deprived households received livestock vaccination and drenching services at no cost. More than 50,000 households were provided with training and awareness on stunting and malnutrition. Additionally, more than 102 community fishponds (covering 204 acres) have been established across six districts: Khairpur, Badin, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, and Sanghar. Six units employing biofloc aquaculture technology have been set up to promote aquaculture and address nutritional deficiencies in Tharparkar.
Rehabilitation of Sukkur: The chief minister, discussing the rehabilitation of the Sukkur and Guddu Barrages, reported that Gates No. 44 and 47 of the Sukkur Barrage sustained damage during peak water demand (June 2024), leading to an emergency response. A coffer dam was constructed ahead of schedule (4 days instead of 6) to restore water flow. The trial gate installation at Bay 36 was completed (June 2024); 13 sluice gates were fabricated, with 6 sandblasted and painted. Gate 25 canal head regulator gates were replaced, and ten main barrage gates and hoisting systems were installed. Fabrication of 20 sluice gates was completed ahead of schedule, with 10 installed by Dec 25, 2024.
Guddu Barrage Rehabilitation: Since October 2024, 20 gates have been manufactured for the rehabilitation of Guddu Barrage, with nine gates successfully installed and four currently under installation. Additionally, 15 hoisting systems have been delivered for the Guddu Barrage gates, of which nine have already been installed.
Rehabilitation of LBOD and Dhoro Puran up to Shakor Lake: The Chief Minister announced the rehabilitation of the Dhoro Puran canal, enabling it to carry floodwaters of up to 11,000 cubic feet per second, benefitting Khairpur, Shikarpur, Larkano, and Dadu Districts. An outfall structure with a capacity of 4,000 cubic feet per second has also been constructed to safely discharge excess flow from the Main Drain to the rehabilitated Dhoro Puran, benefitting Mirpurkhas and Badin on the left bank of the Indus River.
The remodeling of the Aral Head Regulator has been completed, enhancing the flood drainage capacity of Manchar Lake by 125% (from 37,000 cubic feet per second to 83,500 cubic feet per second) at a cost of Rs. 6.2 billion.
Johi Branch: The aqueduct at RD-77 of the Johi Branch, which crosses the Main Nara Valley Drain at RD-210, collapsed during the floods of 2022. This aqueduct is scheduled for reconstruction in mid-2024 to restore water supply for the Taluka Johi, which serves more than 340,000 people, at a cost of Rs. 1,442.462 million.
Special Education & Assistive Devices: The CM announced that the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) has allocated Rs. 90 million to NGOs providing assistive devices and rehabilitation services for the blind, deaf, autistic, and differently abled individuals. Major beneficiaries include IDA Rieu Welfare Association (Rs. 29.135M), JS Academy for the Deaf (Rs. 10M), Pakistan Association of the Blind (Rs. 9.43M), Pakistan Center for Autism (Rs. 2M), and Dar-ul-Sukun Welfare Society (Rs. 4.168M).
Cash for Work: Flood Rehabilitation & Livelihood Restoration: The Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project (SFERP) has launched the Cash for Work (CfW) program, providing immediate financial relief to flood-affected communities. One-time wages of Rs. 17,500 are offered to laborers (including women) for community rehabilitation work. Payments are disbursed through NBP & JazzCash for financial inclusion, with infrastructure repair projects completed in 25 days per scheme.
Innovative Fundraising for Flood-Affected Communities:
A total of Rs 640 million has been accumulated to construct 2,100 houses for flood affectees. An additional Rs 73 million has been raised through the online auction of premium numbers, and fundraising efforts are ongoing.
Road Infrastructure: Regarding road infrastructure, the Chief Minister stated that 196 road projects have been completed, covering a total length of 2,498.99 km at a cost of Rs 53,558.699 million, benefiting approximately 11.985 million people. Furthermore, 120 roads, severely impacted by floods and costing Rs 41,775 million (704 km), have been rehabilitated or constructed. An additional 527 km of roads are expected to be completed by June 2025, with an allocation of Rs 7,833 million.
Research Institutes Established: Mr. Shah reported that the government has established the Cotton and Sugarcane Research Institute at Ghotki with an investment of Rs 155 million. This will promote high-yield varieties, sustainable farming practices, technology transfer, and value addition. A Banana Propagation Technique for controlling the spread of Panama Wilt Disease has also been implemented at Tandojam, with a budget of Rs 150 million to produce disease-free banana plants.
Moreover, a Maximum Residue Lab has been established at Tandojam, in collaboration with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), to foster innovation, enhance sustainable agricultural practices, and ensure food security in the region by focusing on microbial resources and sustainable agriculture through renewable innovation.
The government has introduced various subsidies for farmers in Sindh, including 219 solar water pumps/tube wells at an 80pc % subsidized cost, 434 agricultural implements at a 50% subsidized cost, and 100 solar panel-mounted movable trolleys at a 75pc % subsidized cost. Additionally, nine solar submersible pumps have been provided at an 80% subsidized cost in the Tharparkar district, alongside one solarized cold storage unit (500 MT) in Hyderabad.
On-Farm Activities: Highlighting on-farm activities, Murad Shah stated that 1,029 watercourses, totaling 251 km, have been lined. Eight water storage reservoirs are now operated using solar systems, along with one tunnel farming initiative. Additionally, 21 solar high-efficiency irrigation systems have been implemented, and kitchen gardening kits have been distributed to 9,901 poor, landless female farmers.
New Seed Varieties: The Provincial Seed Council has approved 13 new crop varieties for commercial cultivation in the province, including five cotton varieties, one mustard, one jujube, and six wheat varieties.
Clean and Affordable Energy: The Chief Minister announced the distribution of 200,000 solar home systems, with an additional 300,000 solar home systems planned for distribution. He noted that 24 government buildings have been solarized, generating a total capacity of 14 MW. These buildings include four hospitals: DUHS Ojha Campus (2.32 MW), DHQ Mirpur Mathelo (0.55 MW), New DHQ Mirpurkhas (0.654 MW), and Bibi Aseefa Dental College in Larkana (0.3 MW).
Furthermore, solar infrastructure with a total capacity of 2.136 MW has been installed at the Central Jail (0.615 MW), Malir Prison Jail (0.643 MW), Garden PHQs (0.255 MW), and RRF Alfalah Base Korangi (0.621 MW).
The Chief Minister also mentioned that eight MW of solar facilities have been installed at various educational institutions, including the Saifee Institute of Technology, Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government College, RLAK, Government College of Home Economics, Abdullah Government College, Government College of Physical Education, Zubaida College, and the Government PolyTech Institute of Women Karachi.
He added that several public facilities such as the Jacobabad Water Filtration Plant, Sindh Provincial Museum, DG Health Hyderabad, Jinnah Cultural Complex & Model Library, Liaquat Memorial Library, and the Karachi Development Authority have also been solarized.
Sindh People’s Bus Service: The People’s Bus Service has been launched in Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad.
Livestock Expo 2025, Karachi: The participation of 150 companies led to the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and the maturation of over 145 business deals, with an estimated value of Rs. 1.75 billion. Notably, shrimp seed (post larvae) was produced for the first time in Pakistan at the Hawks Bay Hatchery in Sindh. Over 12 million shrimp seed post larvae (PLs) were produced and stocked across various locations in the country, including 10 million PLs in Punjab. Additionally, 21,600 kilograms of farm-raised shrimp are being shipped to Vietnam, marking the first-ever export of farm-raised shrimp from Pakistan. A Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccine has been produced domestically, addressing a historically imported vaccine. PPR causes annual economic losses of Rs. 20.5 billion in Pakistan. The Sindh Institute of Animal Health in Karachi has successfully manufactured this vaccine, making it available to farmers.
Solar Tube wells: Mr Shah said that 104 Solar Tube wells in the Fresh Zone of Thar Desert Talukas Mithi, Diplo, Islamkot, Dahli, Nagarparkar and Chachro benefiting 200,000 people of 140 large villages for Rs. 499.967 million.
475 SCARP tubewells rehabilitated to address the water logging and salinity in districts Shaheed Benazirabad (300), Sukkur (100), and Khairpur (75) for Rs 419.526 million. Water Supply and Filtration Plant Ratodero & Sakrand 151,286 peoples benefited for Rs. 2,017 million.
