Rs342 Billion Frozen in Legal Cases Affecting Development Projects, Says Sharjeel Memon

Karachi: Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that development activities in the province are being affected as Rs342 billion remain frozen in 635 court cases in the form of bank guarantees.

In a statement, the Sindh Information Minister termed digital property registration for overseas Pakistanis a “revolutionary and historic decision.” He said the new system would eliminate difficulties faced by overseas Pakistanis in buying and selling property, allowing online completion of sale deeds at Pakistani embassies and missions abroad.

Following amendments to the Sindh Registration Act, overseas Pakistanis will be exempted from personal appearances at registration offices. Through a NADRA-linked e-registration system, biometric and facial verification will also be facilitated. Memon said the initiative would not only restore the confidence of overseas Pakistanis but also help curb property fraud.

He added that handing over the e-stamping system to the Sindh Information Technology Company marks significant progress toward the province’s digital autonomy. The five-year service agreement will cost Rs7 million per month, with a 10 percent annual increase. The e-stamping system will introduce modern facilities such as a mobile app, paperless stamp duty, and two-factor authentication to improve revenue collection and provide ease to citizens.

The minister also announced the establishment of a modern fruit and vegetable market in Larkana at a cost of Rs4.8 billion to strengthen the agricultural economy. The project will include a boundary wall, modern drainage system, administrative block, medical facilities, banking services, and green belts to provide better amenities to farmers and traders.

He further stated that consumer courts are being converted into traffic courts to ensure swift justice for citizens. The Sindh Cabinet has approved a comprehensive settlement of the Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess dispute, under which 15 percent of acknowledged dues will be paid in three phases, while the remaining amount will be recovered in 12 equal annual installments.

Under the Export Facilitation Scheme, full exemption on re-exports is being granted to promote trade. Additionally, the Sindh government has significantly expanded protected mangrove forests in the Indus Delta. In District Sujawal, 405,002 acres of intertidal land have been declared protected forest, serving as a natural shield against cyclones and tidal surges.

Memon noted that international standards recommend 25 percent forest cover, whereas Sindh currently has only 10 percent designated as protected or reserved forest. The new decision will further expand the already protected 566,298 hectares in the Indus Delta.