Sindh rolls out Rs33.7 billion emergency response upgrade, public alert system

The Sindh cabinet on Tuesday approved a Rs33.7 billion package to upgrade firefighting and emergency response capacity across the province, including a new early warning public alert system, emergency vehicles, drones and reorganisation of rescue services.

As per reports, the cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, approved an overhaul of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and the Sindh Emergency Rescue Service 1122 under a three-year plan covering equipment, infrastructure and human resources.

The Cabinet also approved engagement with the Chinese Consulate for the procurement of specialised equipment and vehicles through a government-to-government arrangement. Approved procurement list includes 100 fire trucks, 35 water bowsers, specialised snorkels and 50 all-terrain fire vehicles.

The province will also acquire eight firefighting drones and 12 multi-purpose drones. The project cost has been estimated at Rs33.7 billion.

The chief minister constituted a high-level committee, including the home minister and local government minister, to supervise the reorganisation of the rescue service for coordinated and faster emergency response.

The cabinet also took up the Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Rules, 2026, framed for the implementation of the Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Act, 2019. Draft rules cover women working in agriculture, livestock and fisheries.

Draft, prepared with technical support from the International Labour Organisation, includes provisions on equal wages, working hours, maternity benefits, health care, child nutrition, workplace harassment protections, written contracts and the right to association.

Rules also provide for the Benazir Women Agricultural Worker Card and Benazir Women Support Programme. Violations will be tried in labour courts, with fines and imprisonment included in the proposed framework.

The cabinet formed another committee comprising the agriculture minister and labour minister to review the draft and submit recommendations before final approval.

The Labour Department also presented legislative amendments under the Sindh Business One-Stop Shop initiative, led by the investment department with World Bank support, to update industrial regulation and facilitate business processes.

Proposed changes give legal cover to the digital registration of factories and commercial establishments. Amendment to Section 10 of the Sindh Factories Act, 2015 requires factory occupiers to submit commencement notices online.

Reforms also support the implementation of the e-licensing portal, which the cabinet approved on May 30, 2024, for 16 departments. For shops and commercial establishments, the system will issue a provisional certificate for 10 days immediately after the online application is filed.

Law also allows manual submission if online portals remain unavailable for 10 consecutive days. Under new timelines, authorised inspectors must issue factory registration certificates within seven working days of receiving complete application or communicate objections in writing within same period.

The Cabinet further reviewed and confirmed financial decisions worth Rs23.766941 billion, earlier cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Finance. These include Rs7 billion compensation for traders and shopkeepers affected by Gul Plaza fire.

The cabinet also approved appointments for the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Sepra), created under the Sindh Regulation of Electric Power Services Act, 2023. Rafique Ahmed Shaikh was appointed chairman, Nand Lal P Sharma technical and development member, Irtafaur Rehman legal and corporate member, and Muhammad Hanif Idrees finance and policy member.

It also approved the appointment of Ghulamullah Shaikh as a member (law), Nepra.

The Cabinet approved the signing of an MoU between the Balochistan Health Department and the Centre for Autism Rehabilitation & Training, Sindh, for the establishment of autism rehabilitation services in Balochistan.

It also formally approved a twinning agreement between Karachi and Almaty, Kazakhstan, for sister-city relations and economic cooperation.

In another decision, the cabinet approved the removal of Shafqatullah Bhutto, chairman of Union Council-16 Baiji Sharif, Sukkur, after an inquiry found him guilty of misconduct and corrupt practices.