Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah met with the World Bank’s new Country Director, Ms. Bolormaa Amgaabazar, and her team to discuss fiscal reforms and development initiatives in the province. Provincial Ministers Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Nasir Shah, Sardar Shah, Chairman P and D Najam Shah, Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi and other officials were also present. The World Bank delegation included Operations Manager Gayle Martin, Operations Officer Hina Saleem Latif, Senior Economist Adnan Ashraf and Bilal Malb.

The discussions centered on the Public Resources for Inclusive Development program. Chief Minister Shah emphasized his administration’s commitment to increasing revenue and improving public service delivery. He stated that the provincial administration is prioritizing a reduction in the nondevelopment budget and an increase in new tax revenue.

In the education sector, the Chief Minister outlined strategies to increase enrollment in primary and middle schools. Participants agreed on the need to improve the collection of agricultural tax, sales tax on services, and property tax. Chief Minister Shah highlighted the success of the Sindh Revenue Board as a leading tax collection body.

The meeting also addressed strategies to reduce nondevelopment expenditures. The Chief Minister mentioned the implementation of pension reforms and the ongoing digitization of government payments. He also reiterated his commitment to increasing allocations for health and education, as well as ensuring the timely disbursement of these funds. Both the World Bank and the Sindh government agreed to prioritize further progress in the health and education sectors.