Sindh Province

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Karachi’s historic Cotton Exchange Building remains sealed nearly a month after the Sindh High Court ordered that the Karachi Cotton Association be allowed to retain possession and continue its business activities without interference.
The Karachi Cotton Association has expressed concern that the Evacuee Trust Property Board has yet to implement the court’s judgment issued on June 18, 2026.
The court had directed that the association should remain in possession of the property and continue its operations until the ownership dispute is finally resolved.
According to the KCA, the building has remained sealed since December 12, 2025, bringing its administrative and business operations to a complete halt.
The association said important documents and computers taken into custody at the time the building was sealed have also not been returned, leaving it unable to perform its day to day functions.
The Karachi Cotton Association, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, tenants of the building and other stakeholders had challenged the action of the Evacuee Trust Property Board before the Sindh High Court.
In its June 18 judgment, the court suspended a 1963 notification concerning the legal status of the property and referred the ownership dispute to the ETPB chairman for a fresh determination.
The chairman was directed to decide the matter within 90 days, while the court ordered that the KCA should retain possession of the building and continue its business activities until a final decision was reached.
The Sindh High Court also quashed the Federal Investigation Agency case linked to the property ownership dispute.
Following the alleged failure to implement the ruling, the Karachi Cotton Association approached the court again and sought contempt proceedings against the relevant ETPB officials.
The association maintained that the continued refusal to hand over possession of the building, despite clear judicial directions, amounted to a violation of the court’s order.

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Sindh government and the federal government have agreed to launch coordinated measures to protect Mazar e Quaid, curb illegal garbage dumping in its vicinity and improve the management of other key national heritage institutions.
The commitment was made during a high level meeting in Karachi between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi. The meeting reviewed administrative, security and maintenance issues relating to Mazar e Quaid and the National Library of Pakistan.
Officials discussed a range of concerns, including encroachments, sanitation, security arrangements and the overall upkeep of the mausoleum. Both sides agreed to immediately stop illegal dumping of municipal and construction waste around the site and address security threats posed by drug dealers and other anti-social elements.
The meeting also reviewed plans to remove encroachments in adjoining areas, including Lines Area and Khudadad Colony, while considering measures to enhance security, improve visitor facilities and ensure better allocation of resources.
Participants were briefed on the constitutional and administrative responsibilities of the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum Management Board, which is responsible for the preservation, restoration and management of the 132 acre national monument.
Discussions also covered administrative matters concerning the Karachi regional office of the National Library of Pakistan. Authorities agreed to improve water supply and other public facilities, resolve outstanding issues through legal channels and examine proposals for expanding the regional office and establishing a copyright depository.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah described Mazar e Quaid and public libraries as invaluable national assets, reaffirming the Sindh government's commitment to their preservation, beautification and security.
Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi stressed that protecting the country's cultural heritage requires close coordination between federal and provincial institutions. He said joint efforts were essential to address encroachments, environmental concerns and security challenges surrounding the national monument.
The meeting concluded with both governments reaffirming their commitment to sustained cooperation and the timely resolution of pending administrative matters through mutual consultation.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The Sindh government, in coordination with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, has set June 2027 as the target for completing five major road infrastructure projects across the province. The projects, being implemented under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), carry a revised combined cost of PKR 140.91 billion and are expected to significantly improve regional connectivity, facilitate trade and accelerate economic growth throughout Sindh.
The completion timeline was finalized during a high level review meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, where progress on federally funded road schemes was assessed in the presence of members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, led by Chairman Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani, along with provincial ministers and senior government officials.
According to officials, the revised cost of the five projects has reached PKR 140.91 billion, with the federal government contributing PKR 96.75 billion under the PSDP, while the Sindh government will finance PKR 44.15 billion.
The projects include the 36-kilometre Sindh Coastal Highway Extension, the 150-kilometre Mehran Highway, the 31.4 kilometre Tando Allahyar Tando Adam Dual Carriageway, the 135-kilometre Sanghar/Rohri Road (Nawabshah/Ranipur Dualisation) and the 221 kilometre Rohri/Guddu Road. These strategic road corridors are expected to strengthen transportation networks, reduce travel time and improve access between key commercial, industrial and rural areas of the province.
Officials informed the meeting that construction activities are progressing on all five projects. Work on the Sindh Coastal Highway Extension officially commenced after the issuance of the work order in June 2026, while asphalt base construction has already been completed on 44 kilometres of the Mehran Highway.
Construction is also advancing on the Tando Allahyar/Tando Adam Dual Carriageway, although relocation of utility services, shifting of transmission lines and pending approvals from Pakistan Railways continue to pose implementation challenges. Meanwhile, work is ongoing on the Sanghar/Rohri Road, while widening and base construction have been completed on major sections of the Rohri/Guddu Road, where asphalt laying is expected to begin shortly.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah emphasized that modern road infrastructure plays a vital role in strengthening connectivity, facilitating commercial activity and promoting long term economic development across Sindh.
He described the projects as more than conventional road schemes, stating that they would serve as economic corridors linking different regions of the province, encouraging trade, attracting investment and creating new opportunities for businesses and local communities.
The chief minister directed all relevant departments to resolve outstanding issues relating to utility relocation, regulatory clearances and project financing on a priority basis. He also stressed the importance of the timely release of federal PSDP funds to ensure uninterrupted construction and achieve the June 2027 completion target.
Officials expressed confidence that with continued coordination between the federal and provincial governments, the projects would significantly enhance Sindh's transport infrastructure, improve logistics and support sustainable economic growth across the province.