Sindh Updates

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Sindh digitises all land record, offers online services​

New system will secure land ownership record, prevent manipulation

Our Correspondent
December 16, 2023

KARACHI: The government of Sindh has digitised all land record and maps of all estates of SITE Limited and Sindh Small Industries Corporation all over the province including Karachi, Nooriabad, Hyderabad, Kotri and Sukkur and now all services including no-objection certificates, permissions and transfers will be available online.

Caretaker Minister for Revenue, Industries and Commerce Mohammad Younus Dagha on Friday launched the digitisation and online services project for the Industries Department, called E-services Sindh mobile app, in the presence of industrialists, diplomats and government officials.

Now, applicants will not have to come to government offices or wait for action on their applications indefinitely. The new system fixes time limits on officials for the disposal of applications.

The two departments that have developed the app and are offering their services online are the Board of Revenue and the Industries Department. Dagha called it a historical day for governance in Sindh.

Under E-services, the monitoring system will help in performance accountability of officials and improve the ease of doing business. The system provides for online applications as well as delivery of documents through courier services, eliminating human interaction in the entire process.

Dagha said that Sindh had taken a big leap forward by implementing the modern e-governance system in the Industries Department, which would pave the way for other departments to follow.

E-services will reduce the unnecessary hassle for the applicants taking rounds of government offices for petty works.

Dagha said that the most important features of the system were security of government record, especially the land ownership record, which had become prone to manipulation and tampering.

Now, the record will be available online, bringing transparency and security of record to these organisations.

He said the system would require some time to mature and hoped that the elected government would further strengthen and improve it in the coming months. He disclosed that E-services would also be launched in all offices of the Revenue Department in the coming days.

Trade Development Authority CEO Zubair Motiwala termed it a much-awaited step for making improvement in the investment environment of the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2023.

 

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Nai Gaj Dam Project

The Chairman WAPDA visited Nai Gaj Dam to review construction activities on various sites of the project including main dam, main spillway, dykes and intake structure.

The PD Nai Gaj Aijaz Hussain Memon briefed the Chairman about the progress achieved so far. The Chairman directed the project management to devise and implement a contingency plan to minimize the delays caused by the last year’s flood and other contributing factors. Prior to the 2022-floods, the project was scheduled for completion in 2024.

Nai Gaj Dam is being constructed across River Gaj in District Dadu of Sindh.

It will store 300,000 acres feet of water to irrigate 28,800 acres of land, besides generating 4.2 MW of electricity.

Multi purpose Nai Gaj Dam, being constructed in Dadu, Sindh,
It will store 300,000 acre feet of water to irrigate 28,800 acres of land. In addition, the Project, having a small hydel power station, will also generate 4.2 MW green, clean and affordable electricity..

 

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Sindh provincial government plans to buy hundreds of hybrid buses from China in the next fiscal year, starting on July 1, 2023, according to a senior Sindh minister.

Sindh Information and Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon told Gwadar Pro that the province needed buses to facilitate the people. "We have purchased buses from China in the recent past, and they are very fuel-efficient. We plan to buy more in the coming months," he informed. Memon underlined that the government was committed to resolving the transport issue in Sindh.

"Chinese buses have been beneficial, and we hope to further capitalize on Chinese technology," he remarked. Earlier, the Sindh government allocated PKR 10 billion for the procurement of 500 hybrid buses in the provincial budget for the financial year 2023-24.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, while presenting the provincial budget on Saturday, announced a total allocation of PKR 13.4 billion for the provincial Transport Department. He stated that PKR 6.1 billion has been earmarked for the 'Intra-District Peoples' Bus Service,' and PKR 2 billion for the maintenance of transport infrastructure.

Additionally, the government has set aside PKR 600 million for new routes. Three new routes will be introduced from next year to facilitate employees of the Sindh secretariat.

 

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Dhabeji granted the status of Special Economic Zone​

By Tahir Ali
Jun 29, 2023

ISLAMABAD - To promote the value addition component in exports, generate employment, encourage the import situation, and mobilize foreign exchange for the balance of payments support, Dhabeji Special Economic Zones (DSEZ) in Thatta Sindh is another mega project designed within the framework of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)─ a core component of Belt and Road Initiate (BRI).

In a major development last week, Federal Minister for Board of Investment (BOI) Choudhary Salik Hussain chaired the 8th meeting of the Approvals Committee which approved the establishment of eight SEZs including the DSEZ Thatta.

“Dhabeji Special Economic Zone has been granted SEZ status after much anticipation; DSEZ will pave a new era of industrialization for Karachi and Pakistan; the groundbreaking is to be held in mid-July 2023,” reads an official statement of Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC). DSEZ will facilitate the potential investors of China and other countries to either start new enterprises or transfer their facilities to Pakistan.

In 2021, a technical issue emerged regarding the awarding of the contract of Dhabeji Industrial Zone (DIZ) when a petitioner raised questions that the rules of SEZ were not followed during awarding of the contract. SEZMC stated DIZ is not a special economic zone and later will be declared as SEZ. Now, the government has officially declared DIZ as DSEZ.

According to CPEC’s official website, 1530 acres of land have been allocated to establish DSEZ which will be developed in two phases. DSEZ has been proposed to be constructed in two phases comprising 750 acres for Phase I and 780 acres for Phase II.

DSEZ has easy access to Port Qasim, enabling raw material import and finished goods export without incurring major inland transportation costs and saving time. A direct access road (8km) connecting Port Qasim to Dhabeji Zone is being developed.

A dedicated cargo deck connecting the zone with ML-1 from Dhabeji Junction and a jetty connecting Port Qasim alongside the Dhabeji zone from the creek side are envisaged to facilitate export-oriented industries. Karachi Airport (35 Km) via National Highway enables safe travel of foreign workers and management personnel, National Highway enables the transportation of goods to upcountry and Central Asian nations, utilizing the National Trade Corridor.

200 Bed Children Hospital Sukkur Inaugurated.

Children Hospital Sukkur by Sindh Government, which encompasses a wide range of services for pediatric patients including OPD, emergency care, radiology, day care, and an intensive care unit designed specifically.

 

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Sindh govt decides to start work on corporate farming​

The Nation
Apr 12, 2024

The Sindh government has decided to start work on the corporate farming project for which the former caretaker cabinet had allotted more than 50,000 acres on December 1 last year, reports WealthPK.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah underscored the need to improve crop yield with the help of latest technology and directed the agriculture department to strengthen the capacity of its various wings, including research centers.

“Corporate farming can be described as an agribusiness with the use of modern methodologies. This business is done by multinational corporations (MNCs) with the aim to increase food production to overcome food scarcity,” Murtaza Shah, Director of Sindh Agriculture Department, told WealthPK.

Highlighting the aim of the project, he said it would get more production and revenues with the best use of technology and management skills and increase farm productivity and export in the agriculture business as well as improve the quality of farm production with less use of resources, and maintain international standard of production for all major crops at very moderate per unit cost.

The agriculture sector in Sindh has not performed to its potential. Moreover, growth has mainly driven by higher use of resources and inputs, rather than higher productivity. Low agriculture and livestock yields are also a principal cause of low incomes and high food prices, which make it difficult for the majority of Sindh’s population to afford a nutritious diet.

“Sindh has a number of resource advantages, including good soils for agriculture and grazing, available surface and underground water sources, 350kms of coastline suitable for fishing and aquaculture, a climate that allows production of a wide range of crops and their early harvest, and a hard-working labour force,” Imtiaz Chandio, Member of Sindh Agri Task Force told WealthPK.

However, these resources are under threat due to the over-application of water in some areas, overuse of groundwater, and focus on wheat and cotton rice rotation, with high use of fertilizers and pesticides, he added.

In the case of livestock, much of the dairy industry is located in urban and semi-urban areas where overcrowding of animals and poor effluent disposal are resulting in increased risk of disease outbreak and groundwater contamination.

In a number of coastal areas, the resources are now overfished. Another threat is climate change with a likely increase in temperatures, increased risk of floods and droughts, and higher frequency and intensity of rainfall and winds. The health of Sindh’s population is under threat due to the poor nutrition, he added.

 

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Sindh launches Hydro-Agro programme​

World Bank-funded initiative revolutionises water, agricultural management

GOHAR ALI KHAN
May 04, 2024

The business community of Kyrgyzstan is also keen on tapping into Pakistani market via exporting their own agricultural products.

KARACHI:
The Sindh government has launched the Hydro-Agro Informatics (HAI) programme aimed at revolutionising water management and agricultural practices while focusing on the factors of climate change in the province.
Sharing details with The Express Tribune, experts and officials said the HAI programme falls under the Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) project funded by the World Bank (WB).

This pioneering initiative, developed in collaboration with key stakeholders including the Sindh Irrigation Department, Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA), and Agriculture Delivery Unit [crop reporting] of Sindh Agriculture Department, is committed to revolutionising water management and agricultural practices in the province. The HAI will have complete data of irrigation channels, agriculture, and weather.

Partnering with leading academic institutions and international expert organizations such as the US-Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W) at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) in Jamshoro and the Centre for Environment and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) Bangladesh, among others, the Sindh HAI programme aims to integrate hydrology, agriculture, climate, and information technology. Aligned with the National Water Policy 2018 and the strategic directions of the Sindh Water Policy 2023, this initiative heralds a new era of sustainable resource management and climate resilience.

The HAI programme represents a paradigm shift, leveraging advanced technologies including geographic information systems (GIS), sensors, analytics, and modelling to empower stakeholders and farmers with real-time data. This enables informed decision-making to optimise water usage, enhance crop productivity, and mitigate climate change impacts.

“The HAI will be prepared in around two years, as it is divided into two phases, including seven months for designing it and another one-and-a-half years for implementing it. Once the formal agreement is finalised and inked within a month between Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit (PCMU) of Sindh Planning and Development (P&D) Department and USPCAS-W of MUET, the work on the programme will be initiated,” said Prof Dr Kamran Ansari, Lead of the HAI programme team and Director of USPCAS-W of MUET.

Speaking about irrigation data, SIDA GIS Specialist Mohammad Ibrahim Memon said he has already started working on water channels, drainage systems, embankments, tube-wells, groundwater, small dams, and water flows.

Spokesperson for SIDA Hizbullah Mangrio said that launching the HAI programme will digitise all data of agriculture, irrigation, and weather, as the Sindh government took an initiative with the help of the WB to get rid of the conventional and old-fashioned system. He said establishing the HAI centre will update concerned departments, farmers, and locals about the current flow of water, water data, standing crops, seasons, weather, productivity-cum-produce of crops, and other ground realities.

Meanwhile, with growing global water scarcity, efficient water management is paramount as the programme will equip water managers and farmers with the tools needed to monitor, measure, and conserve water resources effectively, ensuring sustainability in the face of climate change, said Nazir Ahmed Memon, Project Coordinator of SWAT, Sindh P&D department, at a programme held the other day, according to a press statement.

“We invite stakeholders from across sectors to join us in this journey towards sustainable agriculture. Together, let us embrace Hydro-Agro Informatics as a transformative tool for a more prosperous and resilient future for Sindh,” he said.

Dr Greg Browder, Lead Water Resources Management Specialist from the World Bank and Task Team Leader for SWAT, highlighted the programme’s pivotal role in modernising water and agricultural management practices, fostering sustainability and resilience in Sindh. Structured into two phases, with the first focusing on design and the second on development and commissioning, Phase-I sets the foundation for transformative change. Across the globe, Hydro-Agro Informatics is yielding promising results, from sensor-based irrigation management systems in California to satellite-based monitoring in Africa.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2024.

 

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A plane is being taken by road from Karachi to Hyderabad.

The private transport company is taking the defunct ship to Hyderabad through the motorway

The ship is being transported on a 10-wheeler truck and a 40-wheeler trailer. A 350-seater Boeing 737 was standing idle in the yard of Karachi Airport.

The decommissioned aircraft is being shifted to Hyderabad for training purposes

 

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A high-level delegation from the Sindh Government visited Huawei Technology Limited’s headquarters in China to evaluate and review the equipment needed for the Karachi Safe City Project and to engage in discussions with Huawei’s senior officials.

Huawei Technology Limited, recognized globally as a leading company, is supplying the cutting-edge equipment for the Karachi Safe City Project.

 

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Chinese investors ink five MoUs in Karachi​

Recorder Report
December 14, 2024

KARACHI: Chinese and Pakistani diplomats signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) here for five projects in transport, health, energy, and agriculture, with support from the Sindh government.

The agreements include local assembly of electric cars, local manufacturing of solar panels, production of slow-release fertilisers, algae farming, and the establishment of a ‘medical city’ in the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone.

Chinese and Pakistani investors will sign a MoU that has been proposed by Pakistan Renewable Energy Resources.

 

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Pakistan, China sign MoUs to assemble electric cars, solar panels locally​

December 14, 2024



Chinese and Pakistani diplomats, supported by the Sindh government, signed MoUs for five transformative projects in Karachi, including local assembly of electric vehicles, solar panel manufacturing, slow-release fertilizers, algae farming, and a medical city in the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone.

The Sindh government emphasized its commitment to supporting Chinese investors, highlighting initiatives like EV taxi services, solar parks, and a ten-year tax exemption for Dhabeji industries.

These projects aim to boost employment, enhance public-private partnerships, and strengthen Pakistan-China economic ties, while addressing energy needs and promoting industrial growth.

Chinese and Pakistani diplomats signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for five projects in transport, health, energy, and agriculture in Karachi, with support from the Sindh government.

The agreements include local assembly of electric cars, local manufacturing of solar panels, production of slow-release fertilizers, algae farming, and the establishment of a medical city in the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone.

 

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The Dhabeji SEZ in Sindh, spanning 1,530 acres, will be completed by May 2025. Proximity to Port Qasim ensures trade efficiency, and a $1 billion medical city is planned.

Under CPEC, China invested $26 billion, adding 8,800MW to Pakistan’s grid and creating 250,000 jobs.

The project signifies industrialisation progress and deepened economic ties.

For more details visit: https://bit.ly/3PxgUp5

 

[FuturePAF]

Considering southern Sindh, especially the areas near Karachi are the most economical place to set up export oriented industries, in what ways does this region lag behind, especially in infrastructure, compared to similar coastal areas in India, where FDI could come in an lead to growth in exports?

Although competition is high, especially considering china’s infrastructure, Pakistan has proximity to the GCC.

China, when it rose, developed export oriented industries first and only then filled in infrastructure needs quickly.

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Sindh announces ‘free pink EV motorcycles’ for female students, working women​

BR Web Desk
February 27, 2025

a statement from the Chief Minister House said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while presiding over a cabinet meeting, made several significant decisions, including the procurement of 1,000 pink electric motorcycles for women and the acquisition of double-decker buses and electric vehicles (EVs) for the city.

According to the statement, the cabinet was informed that the Transport and Sindh Mass Transit Authority (T&MTD) plans to launch a programme aimed at enhancing female mobility through sustainable transportation.

This initiative will introduce approximately 1,000 electric motorcycles for women, which will be allocated through an open and transparent balloting process.

“The initiative requires Rs300 million to be obtained outside the budget. The cabinet noted that an increasing number of women worldwide are opting for electric motorcycles as their primary mode of transport for daily commuting,” the statement read.

The main factors driving this demand include greater mobility, cost effectiveness compared to cars or public transport, eco-friendliness, and minimal maintenance, according to the statement.

“These motorcycles significantly contribute to enhanced mobility and independence for women, promote economic empowerment, break gender stereotypes, and improve safety and security.”

 

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Sindh govt, Dewan Group look to introduce 500 electric taxis in province​

Salman Siddiqui
February 10, 2025
https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sha...er.com/news/40347226&display=popup&ref=plugin

The Sindh government and Dewan Group are making progress in introducing 500 electric taxis in the province, with the aim to address environmental and transportation issues.

A statement from the Sindh government on Monday said Special Assistant to Chief Minister of Sindh for Investment and Public Private Partnership Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar met prominent industrialist and head of Dewan Group of Industries Dewan Muhammad Yousuf Farooqui in the office of the investment department.

The statement added that in the meeting the head of Dewan Group informed that the company is working towards introducing 500 electric taxis in Sindh, a project that would cost Rs2.5 billion.

The special assistant welcomed the idea, stressing that it will help in solving the problem of public transport and also strengthen the Sindh government’s plan for environment-friendly transport.

 

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The Sindh government on Thursday launched an integration system connecting the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Green and Orange lines, which is expected to increase ridership of the government-run transport services manifold.