The Sindh cabinet has sanctioned a Rs20 billion subsidy package on Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser aimed at wheat farmers cultivating up to 25 acres. This initiative is expected to benefit over 300,000 growers across the province, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced on Tuesday.
Following a cabinet session led by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Memon revealed that the provincial government has also approved the registration of new farmers and the re-verification of existing beneficiaries under the subsidy scheme to ensure wider and accurate coverage.
In a significant development, the chief minister has formed a four-member committee tasked with recommending measures concerning the DAP subsidy and setting the wheat procurement price for the upcoming season. The committee is slated to present its findings within two weeks.
Emphasising the government’s commitment, Memon stated that fluctuations in the international market would not be allowed to adversely impact Sindh’s farmers. The previous subsidy phase saw an allocation of Rs45 billion, while the current package stands at Rs20 billion.
Regarding wheat availability, Sindh currently holds 4.84 million tonnes. However, stored wheat stocks have diminished from 1.18 million tonnes to approximately 700,000 tonnes. In efforts to combat hoarding, more than 800 unauthorized warehouses were inspected, resulting in the seizure of 257,738 tonnes of wheat, with about 190,000 tonnes recovered during these operations.
The cabinet further approved raising the wheat storage limit for flour mills from one month to three months, with the condition that the flour price remains fixed at Rs112 per kilogram. Additionally, the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) will supply Sindh with 223,455 tonnes of wheat.
In other approvals, the Sindh cabinet endorsed the establishment of the Pakistan Integrated Flood and Transboundary Alert Centre (PIFTAC) headquarters, including a modern data centre equipped with an artificial intelligence hub and advanced field coordination rooms. An extra Rs441.9 million was allocated for this project, with the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) authorized to implement it on a government-to-government basis.
The cabinet also extended the term of the chairman and members of the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) to four years.
Addressing flood relief, the provincial cabinet approved the draft agreement for the Starwash programme targeting affected districts. The initial phase aims to provide water and sanitation services to between 1.2 million and 1.5 million residents in Khairpur, Jamshoro, Badin, and Naushehro Feroze. The infrastructure will be maintained for six years to ensure sustainability. Moreover, the 193-kilometre Nokot-Mithi-Islamkot-Nagarparkar-Chaelhar water supply system will be handed over for management, and capacity enhancements for reverse osmosis plants in Mithi have been ordered.
Responding to recent political discussions regarding the creation of new provinces, Memon dismissed such statements as deliberate attempts to incite tensions. He emphasized that the Constitution provides a clear procedure for the establishment of new provinces and that such matters should be resolved through parliamentary processes, where elected representatives are already present.
Memon also criticized Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mustafa Kamal, calling them politically irrelevant. He noted that both serve as federal ministers in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led government and suggested they should resign if their demands are not met. Furthermore, he cited Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah’s remarks that no cabinet discussion on new provinces had taken place.
Reiterating his stance, Memon described the ongoing discourse as intentional provocation and stressed that any alteration to the provincial structure must adhere strictly to constitutional procedures.
