KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday underscored his government`s commitment to inclusive development, poverty alleviation and sustainable progress in line with the directives of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

Mr Shah chaired a meeting of his cabinet to deliberate on provincial budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26.

The meeting was attended by ministers, advisers, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and relevant secretaries.At the outset, CM Shah said: `I want to engage all cabinet members thoroughly in shaping the next budget to ensure it addresses the real needs of our people.

We have collected proposals from every district to make this budget representative and impactful.

The chief minister outlined the core focus areas of the new budget, emphasising water supply and drainage, solar energy expansion, education, healthcare, agriculture and industrial growth.

`In the outgoing fiscal year (2024-25), we have not introduced any new schemes, prioritising the completion of ongoing projects,` he said.

He added that in the upcoming budget, the party chairman issued instructions for launching new initiatives that bring tangible benefits to the people.

The important highlights from themeeting include continued rehabilitation efforts for flood-affected communities, repair of schools and hospitals and the launching of new mega projects through public-private partnerships to boostinfrastructure and services.

It also includes strengthening social protection programmes aimed at eradicating poverty, increasing budget allocations for repair and maintenance, upgrading hospital equipment and completing transport projects in Karachi to improve urban mobility.

Proposals given by the cabinet members include reducing non-development expenditures, empowering local governments to become financially self-reliant, introducing digital cash transfers with incentives to enhance social welfare delivery, expanding solid waste management and solar energy systems across the province andconstructing new bus stands in multiple districts to improve public transportation.

The chief minister also highlighted the importance of federal-provincial coordination, stating: `We will finalise the budgetbased on thefederalgovernment`s funding commitments (provincial share) and our provincial revenue targets to ensure fiscal responsibility and effectiveness. After Eid, we will hold further meetings to finalise and approve the budget proposals.

`Our goal is to present a budget that is transparent, development-oriented and focused on improving the lives of every Sindh resident,` the chief minister said, adding that a proactive approach signalled Sindh`s dedication to sustainable development, social equity, and efficient governance in the coming financial year.-APP