Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has issued detailed instructions for preparation of Annual Development Program (ADP) for 2025-26 to ensure strategic planning.
Officials said the chief minister wants to focus on post-flood rehabilitation, socio-economic development and coordination with the government’s broader development agenda in the next ADP, stressing continuity in infrastructure rehabilitation efforts. and align development efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). .
On the instructions of the Chief Minister, Planning and Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah prepared guidelines for the preparation of the upcoming ADP. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for continuity in development efforts by building on the existing ADP 2024-25 and addressing critical issues such as rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged during the devastating floods of 2022.
He directed departments to prioritize high-impact projects that align with the SDGs and relevant sectoral priorities, including resilient infrastructure, improved healthcare and education, and climate-smart initiatives in agriculture and irrigation.
“Planning should reflect current realities, especially in dealing with post-disaster recovery and mitigating the impact of inflation on vulnerable communities,” the CM asked all departments to integrate socio-economic objectives in their proposals. He said encouragingly.
According to the Chief Minister’s guidelines, provincial departments have to complete the approval process for new projects by March 31, 2025 to ensure timely inclusion in ADP. Murad has also stressed on allocating at least 80 percent of the development budget for ongoing schemes while maintaining fiscal discipline and avoiding cost overruns.
The guidelines advocate innovation, urging departments to explore public-private partnerships (PPP) for new projects to overcome financial constraints. The Chief Minister reiterated that “we must ensure sustainable and impactful development that will benefit the people of Sindh, especially those affected by disasters”. This directive highlights the Sindh government’s commitment to targeted, comprehensive and effective development planning for the welfare of its citizens.