Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb assured Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday that federally funded projects in the province would be given due attention. The assurance was made during a meeting at the CM House, where the two leaders discussed the national economy and strategies for its improvement.
The gathering was gone to by Boss Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Government Money Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal, CM’s Chief Secretary Agha Wasif, and Sindh Money Secretary Fayaz Jatoi.
Chief Minister Shah raised concerns about the delayed release of federal funds for projects in Sindh, which had hindered progress, including the Jamshoro-Sehwan Road project, to which the provincial government had contributed Rs7 billion. He additionally talked about the dualization of the Mehran Expressway.
Shah highlighted that the Sindh Revenue Board had been assigned a target of Rs350 billion in tax collection for the current fiscal year, and efforts were underway to strengthen the province’s agricultural tax collection system.
In response, Finance Minister Aurangzeb outlined various steps being taken to stabilize the national economy, noting a recent drop in inflation to single digits. Both leaders agreed on the need for federal-provincial collaboration to boost industrialization, agriculture, and investment.
During the meeting, the Sindh government’s public-private partnership (PPP) projects were praised, particularly the Thar Coal Mining initiative, the largest project under the PPP model. CM Shah also highlighted ongoing projects such as the Malir Expressway and the Ghotki-Kandhkot bridge on the River Indus.
Fisheries Sector Boost
Around the same time, Boss Clergyman Murad Ali Shah met with a designation from Balochistan’s Fisheries Division, drove by parliamentary secretary Barkat Skin, to examine ways of further developing the fisheries area and improve the livelihoods of nearby anglers.
The delegation included Fisheries Secretary Javed Shehvani and Technical Director Dr. Allauddin, while the CM was joined by his Advisor on Livestock & Fisheries Najmi Alam, Livestock & Fisheries Secretary Kazim Jatoi, and Secretary to CM Rahim Shaikh.
Both sides expressed concern over the use of Gujo-Bulo fishing nets, which were harming fish populations and threatening fishermen’s jobs. They called for urgent measures to ban the import of these nets. CM Shah promised to raise the issue with the federal government and directed the Sindh Fisheries Department to initiate welfare schemes for fishermen, while collaborating with Balochistan on similar projects to increase seafood exports.
