A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Minister for Local Government Sindh, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, in which detailed deliberations were carried out regarding the establishment of the Sindh Master Plan Authority (SMPA), its proposed draft, and various aspects of legislation. The meeting was attended by Secretary Local Government Dr. Waseem Shamshad, heads of all departments of Local Government, Director of Sindh Master Planning Shakeel Siddiqui, Director Legal Aurangzeb Qaimkhani, Vice Chancellor of NED University Dr. Nauman, along with other relevant officials.
During the meeting, it was briefed that the establishment of the Sindh Master Plan Authority is being undertaken in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court. The authority will be formed by merging the Karachi Master Plan Department and Hyderabad Town Planning Department into a single autonomous and effective platform. On this occasion, Minister Nasir Hussain Shah stated that the primary objective of establishing the authority is to develop an integrated, strong, and autonomous urban planning framework across the province, enabling scientific solutions to the challenges posed by increasing population and urban issues.
He further stated that under the new law, a comprehensive strategy will be devised to address modern urban challenges, facilitate the business community and industrial sector, and promote sustainable development. It was also agreed in the meeting that under the proposed Act, the Sindh Master Plan Authority will have planning powers at regional, district, and urban levels across the province. All land-owning institutions, including cantonment boards, will be bound to align their development activities with the master plan. The Minister directed that the long-pending draft should undergo complete legal scrutiny at the earliest and be presented to the Sindh Cabinet for approval. Following cabinet approval, it should be forwarded to the Provincial Assembly for legislation without delay.
He further added that modern technical departments such as Urban Design & Renewal and Design Bureau will also be included in the Sindh Master Plan Authority to ensure that the planning process is more effective and aligned with contemporary standards. Nasir Hussain Shah emphasized that the establishment of the Sindh Master Plan Authority is a necessity of the time and will help eliminate unplanned and unregulated urban expansion, while creating a comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable development system for the future. The meeting also included detailed discussions on urban needs, population pressure, infrastructure improvement, and provision of modern urban facilities. According to sources, the Government of Sindh is taking serious steps to complete this project on a priority basis and align the province’s development framework with modern requirements.