The Sindh government has unveiled an ambitious development outlay of Rs959.1 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25, representing a substantial 30.5% increase from the previous year’s Rs735 billion. This landmark budget, which is part of a total budget size of Rs1,912.4 billion, focuses on the completion of long-pending projects, reflecting a strategic shift towards optimizing resource utilization and ensuring the timely delivery of development goals. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasized that the Annual Development Programme (ADP) will exclusively target ongoing projects, some of which have been pending for over a decade.
A detailed breakdown of the budget reveals that Rs493 billion is allocated to the provincial ADP, with an additional Rs55 billion designated for district ADP. Foreign project assistance is expected to amount to Rs334 billion, and federal PSDP schemes will receive Rs76.9 billion. The provincial ADP’s allocation represents a 29.7% increase from Rs380 billion in FY24, highlighting the government’s commitment to accelerating development.
Significantly, the budget for FY25 does not include new schemes. Instead, the emphasis is on completing the existing 4,250 ongoing projects, with Rs305.49 billion allocated for these initiatives. Among these, 552 projects with over 70% of expenditures already made have been fully funded to ensure their completion by June 2025. Additionally, 849 smaller projects with a remaining budget of less than Rs50 million and 858 minor ongoing schemes have also been allocated full funding for timely completion.
An essential aspect of the strategy includes the provision of additional funds from a block allocation of Rs80 billion for projects that require cost adjustments but have yet to issue tenders. This approach ensures that around 1,812 out of the 4,644 ongoing schemes in the ADP 2024-25 will receive full funding and are on track for completion within the fiscal year.
The budget also reflects significant sectoral increases. The education sector sees its allocation rise to Rs32.163 billion from the current Rs13.82 billion, indicating a strong focus on educational development. The transport and communication sector experiences a dramatic jump, with Rs60.4 billion allocated for FY25 compared to Rs2.2 billion previously. This allocation aims to support the expansion of hybrid bus services in Karachi and other major cities.
The government has significantly increased funding for water, sanitation, and road infrastructure. Local government schemes receive Rs71.959 billion, a significant increase from Rs15.7 billion in FY24. The Public Health Engineering Department’s water and sanitation projects are allocated Rs22 billion, up from Rs3.26 billion. These increases underscore the government’s priority on essential services and infrastructure improvements.
The health sector also sees a substantial boost, with allocations rising to Rs18 billion from Rs2.72 billion in FY24. This increase aims to enhance healthcare services and facilities across the province.
In summary, the Sindh government’s budget for FY25 prioritizes the completion of longstanding projects with substantial funding increases across critical sectors such as education, transport, water, sanitation, roads, and health. This focused approach is expected to bring significant developmental progress and address longstanding infrastructural challenges in the province.
