KARACHI: Treasury and opposition lawmakers in the Sindh Assembly traded sharp criticism, albeit in cautious words, on Tuesday during the post-budget debate, with the discussion ranging from Karachi’s share in development spending to allegations of corruption, ethnic politics and administrative failure.

As many as 15 more lawmakers from the two sides of the aisle, including six ministers, spoke on the provincial budget taking the total number of speakers to 127 in the last four consecutive days of the post-budget debate.

The atmosphere in the house, however, remained largely calm compared with previous sittings, with Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah urging members of both sides for a “revision of the curriculum of hate”.

He said that just as Sindhi-speaking Sindhis were an integral part of Sindh, Urdu-speaking Sindhis were also an integral part of the province. “They belong here and cannot go anywhere else,” he added.

Why are World Bank funds being spent on Karachi, where is city’s tax money, asks MQM lawmaker

The education minister said that attempts were made to fan the politics of hate and added that talk of dividing Sindh was not new. “These conversations were taking place even before the formation of the MQM,” he added.

CM Murad said that this point was made by Mahmood-ul-Haq Usmani in 1951 and later Nawab Muzaffar also said it. “If this narrative continues, how will those who consider Sindh their mother accept it?” he added.

“Karachi was, and is, an inseparable part of Sindh,” he said, adding that “Karachi collects tax; it does not generate tax”.

He said that the number of out-of-school children had declined and a Student Attendance Monitoring System was being launched with the World Bank’s support. “The department is working with Nadra to obtain B-Form data of all children,” he added.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-P member Abdul Waseem came down heavily on the PPP saying that the party had been in power for 18 years and questioned where past funds had gone. “World Bank money is being spent on Karachi projects,” he said asking that where the money generated through taxes in the city was going.

Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho said several reforms introduced this year would show full results in two years.

She said that vascular surgery had begun at the Karachi Trauma Centre and 50-bed hospitals had been expanded in Ancholi, Gulberg and Gulshan-i-Hadeed.

“Efforts are under way to set up a maternity home at the Children’s Hospital in Korangi No 5,” she added.

The health minister said that the SIUT was providing excellent services in Karachi and Sukkur, adding that chest pain units were being established in all districts.

Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar said that agriculture needed to be developed on scientific lines, noting record wheat production of 4.9 million metric tons due to subsidies on fertiliser and seed.

Jamaat-i-Islami’s Muhammad Farooq said that the FBR and other agencies collected Rs7,000 billion in taxes in 2025-26, with Karachi contributing 85 to 90 per cent. “Karachi wants its rights. Neither the province nor the federation treats Karachi as a priority,” he said.

He said that of the Rs720 billion ADP, only Rs100 billion had been allocated to Karachi, whereas its share by population should be Rs400 billion.

The JI member said that K-IV required Rs40 billion and warned that the old water lines could not carry K-IV water.

He said that the S-III project was worth Rs32 billion but only Rs1 billion had been allocated.

He added that the only solution to civic problems was an empowered city government. “Local bodies should be given powers under Article 140-A,” he said.

Farooq also demanded an immediate end to the quota system, saying it had kept Karachi’s youth out of jobs.

Prisons Minister Ali Hassan Zardari said that 80km of roads in Tando Muhammad Khan, 120km in Thatta and 26km from Naushahro Feroze to Padidan had been completed, along with the Talhar-Tando Bago road.

He said that five major schemes were included in the next budget and Rs32 billion would be spent on ongoing projects.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Rehan Rajput acknowledged good work in health but said spending on institutions was high.

Livestock Minister Muhammad Ali Malkani said that Sujawal was among the province’s most underdeveloped areas and needed accelerated development.

He said Sindh’s livestock population had crossed 60 million and 23.3 million small animals had been vaccinated.

Adviser on Rehabilitation Giyan Chand Essrani said that Rescue 1122 received 24,000 complaints daily and had facilitated 225,000 people in a year.

MQM-P member from Hyderabad, Rashid Khan, said that problems in several areas had persisted for years and the promises on development funds in the last budget were not fulfilled.

He cited staff shortages at Hyderabad Civil Hospital and claimed funds for some schemes were not released, calling for reforms in the bureaucracy and administrative structure.

Najam Mirza of the MQM-P said that the Provincial Finance Commission Award had not been announced.

MQM-P’s Rehan Akram said that water lines in North Karachi were being laid without planning.

He also said that not a single camera had been installed under the Safe City project since 2016.

Mahesh Kumar Hasija of the MQM-P alleged “petty corruption” in the minorities department and called for a larger raise for low-grade employees.

Later, Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah adjourned the house to June 27.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026