PPP Leadership Directs Focus on Large Development Projects, Says Murad Ali Shah

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership has directed the government to move beyond small-scale initiatives and focus on large development projects. He expressed confidence that these projects would play a key role in improving infrastructure, public services, and economic growth in the coming years.

Speaking at a post-budget press conference in Karachi, Murad Ali Shah said that salaries and pensions remain the largest component of the provincial government’s expenditures. He announced a 7 percent increase in salaries and pensions and said that the ad-hoc relief allowances of 2023 and 2025 had been merged into the basic pay scale. He also stated that the minimum monthly income would be increased to Rs43,000 in the next fiscal year.

The chief minister said that Rs26.2 billion would be provided as a grant to SIUT, while local governments would receive grants worth Rs155 billion. He added that the Sindh government plans to complete 2,056 ongoing development schemes next year, although no new projects have been included in the current budget.

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Murad Ali Shah said that President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had instructed party leaders to think bigger and prioritize major development initiatives. He expressed hope that the party’s planning and vision would bring significant improvements over the next two years and benefit the people of Sindh.

Commenting on federal-provincial financial matters, he said PPP rejected proposals to revise the NFC Award formula because they were considered unconstitutional. He added that all provinces had cooperated with the federal government for national defense and unity by providing grants under Article 164 of the Constitution. According to Murad Ali Shah, a stronger focus on large development projects will help drive long-term progress and economic stability in Sindh.