- Murad accuses the center of neglecting Sindh’s development needs.
- Says political and financial support from Sindh is not guaranteed.
- Warnings Federal budget can face resistance if the province is ignored.
Sindh Minister of Chief Murad Ali Shah has strongly criticized the federal government for what he described as repeated neglect of the province’s development needs, warning that “funding and political support cannot be taken for granted”.
Minister of Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday presented the federal budget for the financial year 2025-26 with a total outlay of RS17.57 trillion, which announced relief measures for the wage class, while the total federal expenses cut by 7%.
In a speech in Karachi on Saturday, Shah said the center had gone too far by running Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD), a step he called “unfair” and damages local infrastructure planning.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in 2024 ordered immediate abolition of PWD after its deteriorating performance to achieve his goals.
“We are not a colony,” he said, calling on Islamabad to treat Sindh with the respect it deserves in the federation.
With reference to the recent budget process, Shah made it clear that Sindh’s cooperation is conditional. “Bilawal Bhutto has already said it: Either give Sindh his rightful projects or forget our vote on the budget,” he warned.
“If the projects do not come to Sindh, go ahead and pass on your budget without us,” added Shah, repeating that the province would not tolerate being treated as a reflection. “If we are treated like stage, we know how to fight for our rights.”
In the budget presented earlier this week, the government has set aside RS1 trillion to the federal program for the development of the public sector (PSDP), corresponding to last year’s expenses.
About 30% of this allocation will be used for transport infrastructure projects according to the budget document.
The minister also answered what he called a campaign for wrong information about the Shahrah-E-Bhutto project.
“Bisarre stories are spreading. Someone even appeared with a gun who claimed that Dacoits were here and had fled,” he said, rejecting the claims as exaggerated and disturbing.
On plans, Shah said the Sindh government pushed on with its infrastructure goals, including a larger link road that connects the Karachi port to Qayyumabad.
“Karachi’s business community is fully on board and supports this effort,” he noted.
He closed by defending Pakistan Peoples Party’s development record and said, “Whether others recognize it or not, the people can see what we have done.”
