Sindh Workers Welfare Board Approves Budget for FY 2025-26: Major Initiatives for Workers’ Welfare Announced
KARACHI – The Sindh Workers Welfare Board, in its 33rd meeting chaired by Sindh Labour and Human Resources Minister Shahid Thaheem, approved the budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. The meeting focused on investment strategies and key welfare initiatives for industrial workers across the province.
The session was attended by Labour Secretary Rafiq Qureshi, representatives from the Sindh Revenue Board, employers and workers’ organizations, officials from the finance department, and other senior government figures.
During the briefing, Labour Secretary Rafiq Qureshi highlighted significant achievements from the previous fiscal year, including:
* Purchase of a permanent head office for the Board
* Approval for complete digitalization of departments
* Launch of a scheme to distribute e-bikes to 10,000 female industrial workers
* Introduction of an accidental health insurance scheme
* Rehabilitation of labour colonies and educational institutions
* Distribution of sewing machines to industrial workers
A new **accidental health insurance scheme** was introduced under which workers will receive up to **Rs. 700,000 annually** for treatment at **270 hospitals nationwide**. In line with directives from the Chief Minister of Sindh, **death grant** has been increased from Rs. 700,000 to **Rs. 1 million**, and **marriage grant** from Rs. 300,000 to **Rs. 500,000**.
To strengthen financial portfolios, the Board approved **Rs. 3 billion investment in SECP-approved Shariah-compliant Sukuk bonds**, aimed at diversifying funds. Workers’ data, along with their families’, will now be integrated and digitized in collaboration with **NADRA and EOBI**.
Minister Shahid Thaheem praised the board’s performance, stating that welfare initiatives launched last year had a direct positive impact on workers. He promised further measures for workers’ welfare in the coming year.
The board also approved:
* Setting up **drug rehabilitation centers** in Hyderabad and Shaheed Benazirabad
* Increasing fees for board members and legal advisors
* Introducing expenditure standards for healthcare benefits for board employees
* Implementing a **unified education plan** to ensure equal educational support for employees’ children
* Annual provision of school uniforms (twice a year)
* **Solarization of schools and construction of fully solar-powered homes** for workers, replacing flats
* Digitization of all educational institutions
* New loan policies: one-time house and car loans, and two-time bike loans (for first-time users only)
A major revelation came from the Sindh Revenue Board Commissioner, who disclosed that over the last 53 years, **FBR collected Rs. 350 billion under workers’ welfare funds**, but only **Rs. 22.5 billion** was allocated to Sindh. He stated that **digitalization efforts in Sindh alone raised Rs. 87 billion**.
This discrepancy was strongly criticized in a formal letter from the Sindh Chief Minister to the Prime Minister, which was presented at the meeting. The letter expressed deep concern over the “unjust distribution” of funds, calling it “blatant discrimination against Sindh’s labour force.”
Secretary Rafiq Qureshi added that he had already raised this issue at the Workers Welfare Fund meeting in Islamabad, stressing that Sindh had not received any funds since 2014-15, unlike other provinces.
The meeting concluded with full endorsement from all members, who praised the efforts of the Labour Minister and Secretary and expressed confidence in their leadership and decisions.
