Karachi Division

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The World Bank is preparing a USD 150 million programme to modernise Sindh’s urban property tax system, with the objective of increasing property tax revenues, improving municipal financial management, and strengthening public service delivery across 45 local councils.
According to a World Bank project document, the proposed Sindh Property Revenues Enhancement Program is scheduled to undergo a technical review on August 31, 2026, and is expected to be presented to the World Bank’s Board for approval later this year.
The programme will be financed through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) under the Program-for-Results (PforR) financing model. Under this approach, funding is linked to the achievement of specific performance targets, including improvements in property tax collection, financial management, and public expenditure systems.
A key component of the initiative is the introduction of a fully digitised property tax management system to modernise the administration of the Urban Immovable Property Tax (UIPT). The reforms will also focus on improving taxpayer compliance, strengthening tax administration, enhancing financial management practices within local governments, and introducing more transparent and efficient revenue collection mechanisms.
Beyond tax administration, the programme will provide support for priority urban infrastructure projects, institutional capacity building, and broader reforms in property tax and land administration systems across Karachi and other major cities in Sindh. These measures are intended to strengthen the financial capacity of local governments and improve the delivery of essential municipal services.
The World Bank noted that Pakistan’s property tax remains significantly underutilised. Current property tax revenues account for only 0.13 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a level considerably lower than that of many comparable low- and middle-income countries. The Bank believes that strengthening property taxation will provide local governments with a more sustainable source of revenue to finance infrastructure development, urban services, and long-term municipal improvements.
If approved, the programme is expected to become one of the most significant property tax reform initiatives undertaken in Sindh, supporting digital governance, improving fiscal sustainability, and helping local authorities generate stronger domestic revenues for future urban development.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan Pakistan is set to receive approximately $2 billion in foreign investment from China, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Türkiye under a long-term plan to modernise and expand Port Qasim, one of the country's most strategically important seaports.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The Government of Sindh has announced that 275,000 houses belonging to low income families will receive free solar home systems under an Rs 18.206 billion initiative aimed at improving access to affordable and renewable energy while reducing electricity costs for vulnerable households across the province.
The announcement was made during a review meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who directed the Energy Department to accelerate the distribution and installation process so that eligible families can begin benefiting from the program as early as possible. He said the project is designed to improve living standards by providing reliable electricity to thousands of houses that either lack adequate power access or struggle with rising energy costs.
Under the initiative, 132,000 off grid houses located in remote desert, mountainous, riverine, and underserved areas will receive solar home systems. In addition, 143,000 on grid protected consumer houses using up to 100 electricity units per month will also be covered under the scheme.
Each selected household will receive a 180 watt solar panel, a lithium battery, one energy efficient fan, and LED lights free of cost, enabling families to meet their basic household electricity needs through clean energy.
Officials informed the meeting that 11,571 solar home systems have already been installed in districts including Karachi, Ghotki, Umerkot, Dadu, Tharparkar, Thatta, and Shaheed Benazirabad as implementation continues across the province.
The project, which was launched in April 2025, is scheduled for completion by June 2027. The provincial government has confirmed that families registered under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) will receive priority during distribution, while authorities have pledged to ensure transparency, timely execution, and equitable access for eligible houses throughout Sindh.