• Sindh cabinet approves plan to designate existing consumer courts as traffic courts in every district
• Murad asks Karachi mayor, transport and LG ministers to review proposal to use 18 acres of former Aladdin Park for Red Line bus depot

KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet has decided to set up special traffic courts across the province by empowering existing consumer courts to deal with cases pertaining to traffic violations under the new e-challan system.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, discussed the issue and approved the designation of consumer courts as traffic courts.

However, the decision was subject to the approval of the Sindh High Court.

According to a press statement, the CM told his cabinet members that after consultation with the Sindh High Court chief justice, the “jurisdiction of Traffic Courts will be conferred upon existing Consumer Courts in every district”.

He was of the view that the decision would allow specialised and rapid trial of traffic-related offences without the immediate need for constructing new judicial infrastructure.

Bus depot at former Aladdin Park land

To reduce project costs and expedite construction, the cabinet deliberated on a critical issue pertaining to “land-use change” for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project.

The cabinet was requested to approve the utilisation of 18 acres of the former Alladin Park for an at-grade bus depot.

Officials briefed the meeting that by shifting from a previously proposed underground facility to an at-grade depot, the project will save approximately Rs4 billion and reduce construction time.

The CM directed the transport and local government ministers and Karachi mayor to sit together and decide the matter in the interest of the city.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the project’s corridor road works, noting that K-Electric is expected to complete all utility relocations by the end of February.

The cabinet was informed that major sections like the Mosamiyat flyover and an underpass at Numaish would be completed by next month.

Digital property registration for overseas Pakistanis

To facilitate the Pakistani diaspora, the Board of Revenue presented before the cabinet the Sindh Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Under the proposed amendment, Sindh is set to scale up online sale deed executions at Pakistani missions and embassies. The amendment to Section 38 of the Sindh Registration Act, 1908, will exempt overseas Pakistanis from physical appearance at registration offices.

Verification will be conducted via an integrated e-Registration system, allowing for thumb impressions and facial recognition at any sub-registrar office or People’s Service Centre, regardless of jurisdiction.

The cabinet also reviewed and approved the transition of the provincial e-stamping system from the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) to the Sindh Information Technology Company (SITC).

A five-year Master Service Agreement with SITC was proposed at a service charge of Rs7 million per month, featuring a 10 per cent annual escalation. Future upgrades by SITC will include a mobile application, paperless stamp duty, linking issuance with CNICs, and two-factor authentication.

The system will be integrated with major entities, including DHA, CDC, and insurance companies, to streamline provincial revenue collection.

‘Protected forests’

To combat climate change and meet global environmental obligations, the Forest and Wildlife Department sought cabinet’s approval for a massive expansion of protected areas.

After a thorough discussion, the cabinet declared 163,902 hectares (405,002 acres) of intertidal land in Sujawal district as “Protected Forests”.

The CM said these areas serve as a natural shield against cyclones and tidal waves while storing “blue carbon” at rates three to five times higher than tropical rainforests.

While global standards suggest a 25pc forest cover threshold, only 10pc of Sindh is currently declared as a reserved or protected forest.

This move will significantly add to the 566,298 hectares already protected in the Indus Delta, the CM said.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026