Sindh Budget Allocates Funds for Eco-Friendly Transport
The Sindh government's efforts to promote eco-friendly transport and reduce plastic pollution are in line with the global call to action to address the alarming rate of plastic pollution in oceans, which poses significant threats to marine life and human health, and the upcoming sindh budget is a major step in this direction.
The Sindh government has announced plans to purchase more buses and allocate funds for electric vehicle (EV) taxis and scooters in the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26, aiming to provide eco-friendly transport facilities in Karachi.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Minister for Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon, where a comprehensive review of various transport projects was discussed. The minister announced that a charging station for EVs will be established every 50 kilometers across all districts of the province, and an assembly plant for EV mini-trucks is being set up in Karachi.
The Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah presented the provincial budget for 2025-26, announcing a 12% ad hoc relief in salaries for grade 1-16 employees and 10% for grades 17-22. The pension of retired provincial employees will increase by 8%. The budget allocates Rs1,018 billion for the Annual Development Program (ADP), with a focus on rehabilitation, infrastructure, social services, and sustainable growth across the province.
The allocation of funds for eco-friendly transport facilities and the establishment of a modern public transport system is a significant step towards reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable development in Sindh, as highlighted by the recent study on plastic pollution in oceans, which found that 80% of plastic waste originates from human activities such as litter and sewage.