KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly continued general discussion on the provincial budget for the next financial year for the sixth consecutive day on Saturday, with senior parliamentarians from both the treasury and opposition benches calling for mutual respect amid their criticism of each other.

As many as 10 more members, including six ministers, delivered speeches during a nine-hour debate on the budget in a thinly attended house.

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, who also holds the portfolios of transport and information, said that Sindh was the first to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) for media monitoring and to establish a Journalists Protection Wing and a Sindh Information Commission.

He said press freedom was “most vibrant” in Sindh, but the government had become its “biggest target”.

Sharjeel says press freedom is ‘most vibrant’ in Sindh

He regretted the spread of “fabricated stories” and said that criticism was a right, but verification was a responsibility.

The information minister said that the provincial policy included a budget allocation and that Sindh’s first feature film, Mera Lyari, was made for about Rs55 million, not Rs20m as claimed in a section of the media. “The film was screened internationally and later acquired by a private TV network,” he added.

He said that “iWork for Sindh” platform had received 4.8m visits and 113,000 registrations, with an AI “Auto CV” feature for job seekers.

The senior minister said work on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Yellow Line was progressing, a section of the Taj Haider Bridge had been completed, and the depot was under construction. He added that the Red Line contract was terminated for delays and awarded to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

He said that daily ridership on the Orange Line had increased from 1,800 to 8,500, while that on the Green Line had risen from 53,000 to 78,000 in three months after its handover to the province.

He said that the Peoples Bus Service, subsidised by the province, carried about 125,000 passengers daily in eight cities.

The minister added that the province had also introduced Pakistan’s first EV buses and the Pink Scooty Scheme. “From 150 women with motorcycle licences at launch, 25,000 have now applied, he said, adding that 100,000 was the target.

He noted that an EV taxi and “Pink Taxi” service for women would be launched this fiscal year.

The senior minister said the Sindh Revenue Board had increased its collections by 24 per cent against FBR’s 10 per cent, with only 368 staff, while the federal tax authority had over 23,000 staff.

He said that Thar coal now generated 3,960MW after work resumed in 2008, and 2.1m flood-affected houses were being built, with ownership in women’s names. “NICVD [National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases] has treated 4.74 million patients, including those from other provinces,” he added.

MQM-P ready to work with treasury benches, PTI lashes out at govt

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader Taha Ahmed told the assembly that his party was ready to work with the treasury benches, but could not accept “humiliation” or baseless allegations.

“We were speaking on the budget from our side when allegations began from the government benches.”

He said that his party was ready to shake hands and move forward with the government, but could not accept humiliation or unsubstantiated allegations on the floor of the house. “The survival of this city and this province lies in moving together,” he added.

The MQM-P leader said politicians were being targeted with fake news on social media, and that his party had even been accused of being Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) agents.

He said that Karachi’s peaceful era was in 1990, asking why an operation was launched against us in 1992, “How can it be that you get my children killed and expect me to shake hands?” he wondered.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) Parliamentary Party Leader Shabbir Qureshi lashed out at the provincial government, saying town chairmen were engaged only in corruption.

He said that a hospital built during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s era was “presenting the scene of ruins” and urged the government to rebuild it.

He said that Karachi bore the look of a war-torn city. “For the past 18 years, the same issues have been discussed without any progress,” he added

‘No terrorism incident reported in Karachi this year’

Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, during his speech, informed the assembly that the police force comprised 170,000, with 134,000 on active duty.

He reported a 7 per cent decline in mobile snatching, and a 10 per cent overall drop in vehicle theft and snatching. “Violent crime is down 40 per cent year-on-year, and no terrorism incident was reported in Karachi this year,” he added.

The home minister said that the Counter Terrorism Department had carried out 642 intelligence-based operations, with terrorism cases down 80pc and 66 militants arrested. “A major plot was foiled after 200kg of explosives were seized from a truck in Karachi,” he added.

Mr Lanjar said that a mobile app was being developed to register phone sellers to curb the trade of stolen devices, adding that the Citizen Police-Liaison Committee had returned 2,458 snatched phones to their actual owners.

On Katcha operations, he said 539 bandits had surrendered since ‘Operation Nijaat’ began in January, and areas once considered no-go zones in Kashmore were now open to all.

The home minister, who also holds the portfolio of law and the parliamentary affairs department, said that the status of gutka and mawa would be brought under the narcotics law with cabinet and assembly approval.

He said that in two years, 7,554 drug dealers were arrested, and school rules were amended to require anti-narcotics action. Cocaine, he said, was entering via Lahore and Peshawar airports, not Karachi. “Red warrants have been issued for four extortionists based abroad, he added.

Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said hundreds of schemes had been completed, with parks, roads and civic facilities improved.

Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said that the minimum wage had been set at Rs43,000 from July 1, approved by the Minimum Wage Board.

He said that the Workers Welfare Board had secured a federal income tax exemption, with Rs13.2 billion targeted from social security this year.

Culture and Tourism Minister Zulfiqar Ali Shah said that libraries were being digitised and motels planned for Naushahro Feroze, Umerkot and Thar.

He called for motorway infrastructure in Sindh to reduce accidents.

Excise and Taxation Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said infrastructure and motor vehicle tax were being collected, with relief extended to businesses despite legal issues.

The house was adjourned to meet at 10am on Sunday (today).

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2026