KARACHI:

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon on Tuesday announced that all educational institutions across the province will continue to operate as usual, with closures observed only on Saturdays.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar in Karachi, Memon said no government department would submit requests outside the approved budget and that fuel consumption would be optimised in view of diesel prices reaching historic highs. He stressed that these measures aim to reduce the burden on the public.

Memon stated that the Sindh Cabinet had approved a comprehensive survey of Katcha areas, with the Revenue and Forest departments playing key roles. He noted that these areas often exist only on maps and lack official survey numbers.

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The cabinet also approved a grant of Rs50 million for the Aurat Foundation and decided to establish the Sachal Sarmast Library in Khairpur. Additionally, a state-of-the-art museum will be developed by the Culture Department in collaboration with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), with three acres of land allocated in Bagh Jinnah.

On agriculture, the Cabinet set a wheat procurement target of one million metric tonnes. Memon noted that the government has detailed data on wheat cultivation, and the procurement is expected to benefit farmers. He added that issues related to the power company for the K-IV project have been resolved and that a specialized center for diseases affecting pregnant women will be established.

He said,” The Sindh cabinet has approved the procurement of wheat for the 2025–26 season. A few days earlier, ministers had outlined their policies in this same hall, and the cabinet has now formally approved them”.

“Under this policy, the province will procure one million metric tonnes of wheat this season at a support price of Rs3,500 per 40kg. For the first time, purchases will be limited to registered Hari Card holders”, he said.

Home Minister Lanjar said the Sindh Police had achieved significant success in the Katcha areas, with the ongoing “Nijat Mehran” operation resulting in the surrender of 393 dacoits. He added that a survey of Katcha areas from Ubauro Taluka in Ghotki district to Thatta had been approved, with land allotments aimed particularly at women and widows, while forest department land will be returned to the department.

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He further said the government had informed federal authorities regarding the supply of military-grade weapons and claimed that a depot of such weapons in Punjab had been destroyed by Sindh Police. He added that law and order had improved significantly over the past few months.

He said, “In the second phase, the ATC court in Kashmore was vacant, and the ATC court in Jacobabad was also vacant. We sent a proposal to the chief justice of Sindh requesting the nomination of an ATC judge so that the criminals who are surrendering could be presented in court”.

Referring to a recent case in Dadu, Lanjar stated that the court had delivered its verdict, stressing the need to end misconceptions regarding acquittals.

He said both parties were given a fair trial and that action would be taken against those involved in firing incidents. He reiterated that the government is not a party in such matters and its role is solely to maintain its writ.