Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while presiding over a cabinet meeting, approved $15 million Grant for the New JPMC Emergency Tower, the establishment of a community health company, the creation of a Sindh government cloud, the setup of 14 anti-narcotic courts, and a Centre for Excellence for countering violent extremism. The cabinet also adopted austerity measures, allowed the purchase of a heritage building for the IT Tower, and extended the validity of the screening test until June 2028.
The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and concerned secretaries and other officers.
The cabinet considered 57 agenda items – one of the longest agendas taken up in a single sitting. At the outset, the Chief Minister offered a dua for former chief minister Aftab Shaban Mirani and former provincial minister Lal Bux Bhutto, praying for their eternal peace.
The Chief Minister also announced that cabinet meetings will now be held every fortnight, with the next session scheduled for December 2 (Tuesday).
$15 million for New JPMC Emergency Tower
The Cabinet, after deliberation, approved a grant-in-aid of $15 million (or its equivalent in PKR) to the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF). The grant was requested for the supply of utilities and procurement of equipment for a proposed new 12-storied Emergency Tower at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi.
People’s Community Health Services Company
The cabinet approved the establishment of the People’s Community Health Services Company, a not-for-profit entity under Section 42 of the Companies Act, 2017, aimed at revitalising and expanding community-level healthcare across the province.
Revised budget for Children’s Hospital, North Karachi
The cabinet approved the rationalisation of budget for the Sindh Government Children Hospital North Karachi (SGCHNK), operating under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI).
The SGCHNK is a 225-bedded hospital with a Service and Management Agreement spanning 10 years, from September 30, 2016, to September 29, 2026.
14 ATC courts re-designated as Narcotics courts
The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Home Department to re-designate 14 Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) as ‘Special Courts’ under the Sindh Control of Narcotics Substance (CNS) Act, 2024.
Currently, Sindh has 33 ATCs, with 20 in Karachi and 13 in other districts. Observing low caseloads in several Karachi ATCs, the Home Department proposed abolishing 13 ATCs in Karachi and one in Hyderabad and converting them into Special Courts to expedite narcotics-related cases.
The re-designation will establish Special Courts across Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, and Larkana divisions. Remaining ATCs in Sindh will be reorganised to ensure efficient handling of pending cases.
Centre to counter violent extremism
The Sindh Cabinet approved the establishment of the Sindh Centre for Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism under the Home Department.
The move follows the enactment of the Sindh Centre for Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Act, 2025, aimed at preventing violent extremism, terrorism, militancy, and subversive activities in the province. The dedicated centre will serve as a hub for research, coordination, and implementation of counter-extremism initiatives across Sindh.
Sindh IT Tower
The cabinet also received a brief from the Science & Information Technology Department regarding the proposal to procure the Habib Insurance / HBL heritage building on M.A. Jinnah Road for establishing the Sindh IT Tower.
Extension in validity of screening test
The cabinet considered the extension in the validity period of general screening test results conducted by Sukkur IBA Testing Services (STS) for recruitment against BS-5 to BS-15 posts. It was noted that written tests for the Graduation Category were held in January 2023, and for the Intermediate Category in June 2023, with a three-year validity approved earlier by the cabinet. However, due to a High Court stay order, the 2024 general elections, and the subsequent recruitment ban, appointments could not be made.
Sindh Charity Commission
The cabinet approved the establishment of the Sindh Charity Commission under the Sindh Charity Commission Act, 2019 – legislation that governs the registration, regulation, and oversight of all charitable organisations, NGOs, and NPOs operating in the province. The commission is mandated to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper utilisation of charitable funds through mandatory registration, financial monitoring, and annual reporting of charities.
Reconstitution KFHA Board
The cabinet approved the reconstitution of the Board of Directors of the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA). It was noted that the tenure of the previously notified Board had expired in August 2025, requiring reconstitution under the law.
Sugarcane Crushing Season
The cabinet discussed the sugarcane crushing season 2025-26. Under the Sugar Factories Control Act, 1950, crushing in Sindh must begin no later than 30 November, and growers had strongly demanded the timely commencement to prevent loss of sucrose content and delays in land preparation for subsequent crops.
Residential Plots for KPC Members
The cabinet also reviewed the allocation of 639 additional residential plots for members of the Karachi Press Club (KPC). It was noted that KPC had earlier been allotted 1,271 plots through the Lyari Development Authority (LDA) and had subsequently requested allocation of 700 additional plots, later verified as 639 eligible members.
Allotment of Plots for KPC members
The cabinet considered the Local Government proposal for the allotment of residential plots to members of the Karachi Press Club in the New Malir Housing Scheme-I (Block-12) and Taiser Town Scheme-45 (Sectors 22 & 23) under the already approved 80/20 cost-sharing policy. It was noted that the Malir Development Authority (MDA), in its Governing Body meeting held on 16 October 2024, had decided that 80% of the land and development cost would be borne by the Government of Sindh, while 20% would be paid by KPC members. The cabinet was informed that computer balloting for these plots had been conducted earlier in 2014 and 2018, and that a committee headed by the Secretary Information Department had endorsed the 80/20 policy.
The cabinet approved the proposal.
CRMS agreement & Mobile App Addendum
The Sindh Cabinet approved the Civil Registration Management System (CRMS) Agreement, originally signed on January 16, 2020, between NADRA and the Local Government & Housing Town Planning Department (LG&HTPD).
Framework for Women’s TEVT Institute in Malakand
The Sindh Cabinet has approved the Framework Agreement/ MoU for the establishment of a Women’s Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TEVT) Institute in Batkhela, District Malakand (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
Education City — allotment rules
The cabinet approved the Education City Land Allotment Rules and Education City Regulations. The rules and regulations are vital for carrying out the purposes of the Education City Act 2013, which governs the Education City Project.