In a major boost to the provincial agricultural sector, the Sindh cabinet has doubled its additional subsidy for wheat delivered to the food department, hiking it from Rs1,000 to Rs2,000 per maund. The decision forms a central part of an enhanced support package for wheat growers that could bring total provincial spending on the initiative to approximately Rs16 billion.
The program specifically targets small and medium-scale wheat growers owning up to 25 acres of land, with an estimated 550,000 farmers set to benefit across Sindh.
Key Highlights of the Cabinet’s Decisions
- Tiered Financial Support for Farmers: Eligible growers will receive a flat subsidy to offset the cost of purchasing DAP fertilizer or an approved substitute. Farmers who directly deliver wheat to the provincial food department will earn the additional incentive based on their total quantity supplied.
- Funding Allocation: The baseline subsidy program is budgeted at roughly Rs14.9 billion. Adding the incentive linked to wheat procurement brings the overall estimated allocation up to Rs16 billion, contingent on final verification and rollout.
- Farmer Registration & Digital Verification: The cabinet greenlit fresh enrollments for farmers holding up to 25 acres under the Sindh Wheat Growers Support Programme. While existing beneficiaries will be revalidated by the revenue department, new applicants will register via an upgraded digital platform designed to curb duplicate and invalid entries. Disbursements will be transferred directly to farmers’ Benazir Hari Card accounts via Sindh Bank.
- Support Price Deferred: A final decision regarding the official wheat support price for the 2026–27 season was postponed pending detailed financial reviews and further consultations.
Healthcare Infrastructure & Tax Exemptions
- New Medical Tower at NICH: The cabinet approved the construction of the 13-storey, 445-bed Bilquis & Abdul Sattar Edhi Medical Tower at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) in Karachi. Executed as a $17 million public-private partnership with the Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation, funding comprises $10 million from the foundation and $7 million in provincial grant-in-aid (released in two equal installments across FY2026-27 and FY2027-28). A supervisory committee led by Faisal Edhi will oversee project execution and fiscal oversight.
- SIUT Infrastructure Cess Relief: A Rs555.13 million infrastructure cess exemption was ratified for the Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation (SIUT) covering 154 imported consignments of medical equipment valued at approximately Rs30.07 billion between May and September 2026.
Digital Land Governance & Federal Tax Negotiations
- Faceless Land-Title Transfer System: The cabinet launched a pilot digital electronic land-title transfer system across three dehs—Matiari and Palijani (District Matiari) and Deh Bagerji (District Sukkur). Developed by Sukkur IBA University alongside the Board of Revenue, the system integrates with NADRA, FBR, and the Sindh e-stamping platform. It allows landowners to process sales, purchases, or gifts online, requiring only a single physical visit for biometric verification and issuing property cards.
- Motor Vehicle & Capital Value Taxes: Restoration of advance tax collections on motor vehicles and capital value tax remains conditional on receiving an outstanding Rs10 billion refund from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and resolving related administrative and legal frameworks.
