Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a pivotal cabinet meeting, leading to significant policy changes across multiple sectors, including education, rural services, and administrative governance. Key highlights include abolishing the deceased quota, establishing inclusive education for children with mild autism, and introducing reforms to enhance water and sanitation in rural areas. The cabinet approved the establishment of the Directorate of Inclusive Education under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD).
This initiative addresses the refusal of mainstream schools to admit children with mild autism and similar conditions. It aims to integrate these students into public and private schools, providing them with equitable educational opportunities in line with existing laws. The Sindh government abolished the deceased quota for recruitment, following a Supreme Court directive declaring the rule discriminatory and unconstitutional. The deletion of Rule 11-A from the Sindh Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion & Transfer) Rules, 1974, was formally approved. The cabinet announced the Sindh Peoples Rural Civic Services Company under the Sindh Transformational Accelerated Rural Services (STARS) initiative.
This project aims to deliver clean water and sanitation to 61% of Sindh’s rural population, with funding of $400 million from the World Bank. Communities will contribute Rs 1,000 per household for maintenance, promoting sustainability and community engagement.
The Sindh cabinet formed a committee to address inefficiencies in the province’s educational boards. Recommendations will focus on governance and operational improvements. New, merit-based recruitment criteria for vice-chancellors were also approved, tailored to specific university types, including engineering, medical, law, and veterinary institutions.
The maximum age for applicants is capped at 62 years, and appointments are limited to a four-year tenure, extendable for another term. The cabinet approved establishing the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Institute for Democracy and Federalism (SBBIDF), integrating three existing Benazir Bhutto Chairs into a new autonomous body. An allocation of Rs 300 million has been approved for the institute. Additionally, the M.H. Panhwar Institute of Sindhological Studies will be established to enhance research in natural and social sciences while preserving Sindh’s cultural and historical legacy.
Four acres of land were allotted for a 132 KV grid station in District Matiari. Approval was granted for an LNG port feasibility study at Keti Bandar by Pakistan Gas Solutions Ltd. Amendments to coal mining rules were introduced to improve monitoring, including electronic weighbridges and cloud-based toll systems. A Rs 2.3 billion grant was sanctioned for Hassan Suleman Memorial Hospital in Malir, expected to be completed within two years. Renewal of an MoU with Sukkur IBA for conducting screening tests for BPS-5 to BPS-15 recruitments.
Appointment of Tariq Manzoor Chandio as CEO of Trans-Karachi for the BRT Red Line Project. Appointment of retired judge Dharmun A. Akhani as a full-time member of the drug court. Temporary extension for retiring professors at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College, Lyari. Appointment of Aijaz Memon as Chairperson of the Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Dr. Nabila Shah Jilani as a board member of the Sindh Coal Authority.
