Pre-budget debate concludes amid opp calls for uplift schemes

Sindh government stands committed to protect the rights of the province over its share in the Indus River's water, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Friday. "We will not allow anyone to steal eve a drop of the province's rightful share in the Indus River," the chief executive of the provincial government said regarding the planned construction of new canals on the river by Punjab. "We are closely watching the situation," he said, while concluding the pre-budget discussion in the assembly, emphasised the government's commitment to maintaining law and order, highlighting the importance of transparent financial planning and stating that there was no construction taking place on the Cholistan canal. He highlighted that there has been no construction from Head Sulemanki to Marot, where a 5,000 ft length of canal was found abandoned, and no further activity was observed. Through maps and budget estimates, he showed that no expenditures have been incurred on the construction of Cholistan. Security & vigilance The CM started his speech by expressing concerns over the rising wave of terrorism in the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He assured the assembly that the Sindh government and law enforcement agencies were monitoring the situation to prevent any security threats in the province. "For decades, lawlessness was a major issue in our country and province, but after 2013-14, conditions started improving," he said. He also highlighted that the Sindh Assembly had previously passed a resolution against terrorism, underscoring the responsibility of all political parties to prioritise national security above political differences. Pre-budget discussion rule He highlighted that Sindh is unique in having Rule 143, which allows structured pre-budget discussions, unlike any national or provincial assembly, emphasising that this rule enables all members to discuss budget matters and propose solutions. Comparing last year's delay due to a government formation, Shah noted that this year's discussions are on track, praising the productive debates and increased participation from legislators, as last year political tensions led to only 31 members partaking. Opposition's role & commitment The CM also acknowledged the Leader of the Opposition for recognising the government's good intentions despite execution differences. "I'm pleased to hear that there are no doubts about our intentions," Shah said, emphasising his party's commitment to the welfare of Sindh's people since 1970, highlighting increased engagement in the assembly, with 100 members speaking this year and a 132 last year during budget discussions. The CM underscored the significance of discussing infrastructure and water supply issues in Karachi, calling the city "the heartbeat of the country." He pledged to document all suggestions for consideration in the 2025- 26 budget. He informed the assembly that this year, the total budget was Rs3,056 billion. As of February 28, 2025, nearly Rs2,000 billion has been released, and Rs1,454 billion has already been utilised with a significant portion of employee expenses, including salaries and pensions, in addition to which the largest portion of the grants go to health institutions such as the SIUT. "This has proven to be a highly effective way to directly benefit the people," the CM said. Shah further stated that of the 1,153 development schemes, 1,035 under Rs50 million have received funding along with 610 of the 624 larger projects over Rs50 million. For the 2,472 schemes over Rs100 million, so far 2,050 have been funded in four installments.The CM addressed concerns about reporting government performance, stating that out of 4,500 development schemes, 50 projects have been completed, with many near completion, citing projects like the Hub Pumping Station and the Karachi Water & Sewerage Improvement Project. "Despite achievements, focusing on just 25 projects creates a false impression of inactivity," he said, highlighting Rs303 billion spent on development.

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