Karachi, Pakistan – Web Desk: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said the provincial government faced an Rs85 billion funding shortfall after receiving only Rs91 billion from the federal government against the Rs175 billion allocated under the revised budget estimates by the end of June.
Speaking to the media after inaugurating Sindh’s first Google Gemini for Education Corner at NED University of Engineering and Technology in Karachi, the chief minister said the reduced transfer of federal funds had placed additional pressure on the province’s financial resources and development projects.
Responding to a question on fiscal matters, Murad Ali Shah said the revised budget estimates entitled Sindh to receive Rs175 billion from the federal government by the end of June. However, only Rs91 billion was released, leaving the province with an estimated Rs85 billion shortfall.
He said the delayed and reduced transfer of funds had affected the provincial government’s fiscal planning and increased financial pressure on ongoing development schemes.
Commenting on local government reforms, the chief minister said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has consistently worked to strengthen local government institutions in Sindh.
He criticised provinces that do not have functioning local government systems, saying their criticism of Sindh’s local governance model was “baseless.”
Murad Ali Shah also highlighted the importance of intelligence-based security measures, reaffirming the Sindh government’s commitment to promoting technology, digital innovation and modern governance.
Responding to a question about proposals to establish a federal coordinating authority for urban development, he said Sindh had no objection to the creation of such a body. However, he stressed that administrative powers over departments devolved to the provinces under the Constitution should remain with the provincial governments.
