Sindh cabinet has approved a package worth up to Rs.16 billion to support wheat growers, while also approving a blockchain-based system for transferring land titles and a new 445-bed medical tower in Karachi.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired the meeting at the CM House, where ministers and senior officials considered 23 agenda items covering agriculture, healthcare, land administration, taxation, education and other areas of provincial government.
The provincial cabinet approved an enhanced support package for wheat farmers with landholdings of up to 25 acres.
Under the scheme, eligible growers will receive a flat subsidy for DAP fertilizer or an approved alternative. Farmers who sell wheat to the provincial Food Department will receive an additional subsidy based on the quantity supplied.
The additional payment has been increased from Rs1,000 to Rs2,000 per maund.
The government estimates that about 550,000 wheat growers could benefit from the package.
Officials said 56,741 farmers supplied more than 2.04 million maunds of wheat to the Food Department during the previous procurement season.
The basic subsidy program is estimated to cost about Rs.14.9 billion, while the enhanced procurement incentive could take the total allocation to around Rs. 16 billion, subject to verification and disbursement.
The chief minister directed fresh registration of farmers owning up to 25 acres under the Sindh Wheat Growers Support Program. Existing beneficiaries will be revalidated, while new applicants will be registered through an upgraded digital system.
Payments will be made directly through Sindh Bank into beneficiaries’ Benazir Hari Card accounts.
The cabinet postponed a decision on the wheat support price for the 2026-27 season, pending further consultations and financial assessments.
Digital land transfers launched
The provincial cabinet approved the launch of a Digitalization and e-Transfer of Title System in three pilot dehs – Matiari and Palijani in Matiari district and Deh Bagerji in Sukkur district.
The government says the new system will provide a single digital platform for property transfers and has been integrated with the Federal Board of Revenue, NADRA and Sindh’s e-Stamping system.
Landowners will be able to access their records online and electronically transfer property through sale, purchase or gift.
A physical visit will still be required for biometric verification, but the government says this will be the only mandatory visit under the new process.
People’s Service Centers will assist citizens with access to the system and biometric verification. Property Cards will also be issued to landowners as records of their property rights.
The cabinet approved legal measures to support the pilot, including changes relating to the Transfer of Property Act, the Sindh Registration Act and new Sindh e-Conveyance Rules.
The government says the system is intended to reduce fraud, disputes and delays in property transactions.
New medical tower approved for NICH
The cabinet approved construction of a 13-storey, 445-bed medical tower at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) in Karachi.
The Bilquis & Abdul Sattar Edhi Medical Tower will be developed through a public-private partnership with the Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation.
The project is valued at $17m, with $10m to be provided by the foundation and $7m by the Sindh government through a grant-in-aid.
The government contribution will be released in two equal instalments during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 financial years.
A supervisory committee headed by Faisal Edhi will oversee the project, including the use of government funds.
