The Sindh cabinet on Tuesday formed a ministerial committee to review a package of amendments to the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 aimed at improving institutional efficiency, accountability, continuity of elected councils and municipal service delivery.
The cabinet also approved a comprehensive survey and digital mapping of Katcha land across Sindh with a cost of Rs705 million, a support package for small wheat growers, extended tax and registration incentives for electric vehicles until 2028, and several measures to strengthen wheat reserves.
The cabinet meeting, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants, the chief secretary and senior officials of relevant departments.
The proposed amendments to the local government law include initiating the local government election process 120 days before expiry of a council’s term.
Outgoing mayors, district chairmen to become administrators after term ends; ministerial body formed to review legislative changes
Another amendment will allow the outgoing mayors or chairmen of district and town corporations to continue as administrators if elections are delayed.
The law will also be amended to introduce a two-thirds majority requirement for a vote of no-confidence against union council and union committee chairmen and vice-chairmen; and assign the deputy mayor or vice-chairman the role of convenor.
The package also provides for mapping of public-service infrastructure, designation of the chief executive of Karachi and future metropolitan corporations as Metropolitan Commissioner, and establishment of Reconciliation Forums at Union, Town and Municipal Committee levels for amicable settlement of community disputes.
The CM constituted a sub-committee comprising Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Jam Khan Shoro, Adviser Najmi Alam and Special Assistant Saleem Baloch to review the proposed amendments and submit recommendations before their referral to the Sindh Assembly.
Mapping of 1.61m acres of riverine area ordered
A Board of Revenue’s proposal to undertake a comprehensive survey of Katcha Land in Sindh through the Survey of Pakistan on a government-to-government basis for Rs705 million was also approved by the cabinet.
The survey will cover approximately 1.61 million acres of the Katcha area.
The survey will comprise satellite imagery, GIS mapping, geodetic control, cadastral and parcel-level mapping, geo-tagging of land use, boundary demarcation and collection of ownership and land-use data.
The cabinet approved the engagement of Dr Ashraf Wasti as an individual consultant for six months to provide technical assistance in preparing the forthcoming Provincial Finance Commission Award.
DAP subsidy proposal
The cabinet gave particular attention to supporting wheat growers ahead of the Rabi 2026-27 season.
It considered proposals of the Agriculture Department for targeted DAP subsidy to small farmers, with enhanced assistance for growers who had supplied their wheat to the Sindh Food Department.
The cabinet was informed that the indicative retail price of DAP had been worked out by the Agriculture Department for targeted DAP subsidy to small farmers, with enhanced assistance for growers who had supplied their wheat to the Sindh Food Department.
The cabinet was informed that the indicative retail price of DAP had been worked out at around Rs17,904 per bag, while the federal government had proposed a subsidy of Rs3,500 per bag.
The cabinet decided that farmers who had sold wheat to the Sindh food department would receive additional subsidy as an incentive for participating in government procurement.
The cabinet also approved the opening of new registration and revalidation of existing growers under the Sindh Wheat Growers Support Programme.
The agriculture department informed the cabinet that under the previous support programme, Rs27.336 billion in DAP subsidy was disbursed to 333,127 growers, while Rs14.428 billion in urea subsidy was provided to 314,317 growers.
The cabinet approved procurement of 223,455 metric tonnes of wheat from Passco along with transportation arrangements. Of the quantity, 130,000 tonnes will be transported to Karachi, more than 30,000 tonnes to Hyderabad/Jamshoro, while stocks already available in Passco warehouses at Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar will be retained for the requirements of Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas divisions.
The cabinet was informed that Rs23.136 billion had already been released for wheat procurement and Rs2 billion for transportation.
It also approved procurement of 0.3 million tonnes of imported wheat through TCP and authorised a tripartite agreement among the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, TCP and the government of Sindh.
The cabinet approved a two-year extension of tax and registration incentives for non-commercial electric vehicles from May 30, 2026 to May 29, 2028.
Under the approved package, the registration fee for non-commercial EVs will remain at Rs1,000, while annual motor vehicle tax will be Rs500.
A luxury tax of Rs5,000 will apply to EVs equivalent to 2000cc and above, while electric motorcycles will be subject to a one-time lifetime motor vehicle tax of Rs500. The late-registration penalty has been fixed at Rs1,000.
Reference Link:- https://www.dawn.com/news/2026773