KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday offered Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) technical support to replicate Sindh’s models in revenue mobilisation, climate-resilient housing and public-private partnerships, as both provinces agreed to deepen inter-provincial cooperation.
During a high-level virtual meeting with GB Chief Minister Advocate Amjad Hussain, Murad Ali Shah said that Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had directed the Sindh government to develop close coordination with the GB in three areas.
Mr Shah said that Gilgit-Baltistan possessed enormous potential in tourism, hydropower and services. “Through institutional reforms, digital governance and innovative financing models, this potential can be transformed into sustainable economic growth and improved public services,” he added.
Mr Shah attended the virtual meeting from CM House along with PPP MPA Jameel Soomro, Special Assistant on PPP and Investment Qasim Naveed, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi and others. The GB side was led by Mr Hussain and included the GB chief secretary, finance secretary and other senior officials.
According to a press statement issued by CM House, the Sindh government gave a detailed presentation on the Sindh Revenue Board and offered support to operationalise the proposed Gilgit-Baltistan Revenue Authority.
Mr Shah said that Sindh was ready to assist in policy design, digital architecture, institutional development and training to help the GB build a modern tax administration. “SRB’s success rests on five pillars: autonomous administration, fully digital workflows, automated tax tools, data-driven audits and taxpayer facilitation,” he added.
The chief minister identified telecommunications, hospitality and tourism, construction, banking, insurance and logistics linked to Sost Dry Port as sectors where the GB could substantially increase revenues. He directed SRB officials to assist in drafting tax laws, establishing IT infrastructure and developing a professional tax cadre.
Mr Shah also shared details of the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees programme, and presented a proposed model for 196 flood-damaged houses in GB, featuring elevated foundations, reinforced concrete and sanitation facilities at an estimated cost of Rs360.6 million.
A presentation was also given on Sindh’s PPP model, established in 2008 with the ADB support and codified in the Sindh PPP Act 2010. The PPP Unit offered to help the GB develop its own legal and institutional framework, and encouraged projects in hydropower, tourism infrastructure, roads and public services.
GB Chief Minister Amjad Hussain thanked Sindh for sharing its expertise and said the GB was keen to learn from its reforms. “Gilgit-Baltistan is entering a new phase of economic development and institutional strengthening,” he said. The experiences shared by Sindh today provided valuable guidance for improving the GB’s fiscal capacity, attracting investment and delivering better services, he added.
The two sides agreed to set up structured coordination mechanisms and a joint committee to advance cooperation in revenue reforms, PPP development and disaster-resilient housing.
Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026
