Sindh details welfare measures amid rising fuel prices

KARACHI: Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Monday set out a series of welfare measures introduced by the provincial government in response to increasing fuel prices, including support for farmers, subsidised public transport, housing schemes and the planned distribution of pink scooters.

Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Memon said the government had collected substantial data through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which he said had helped shape large-scale welfare programmes in the province.

He said a major housing initiative was currently under way and described it as the world’s largest housing project, adding that homes were being provided to 2.1 million families.

Memon also said the Sindh government had launched the Benazir Hari Card to assist farmers.

Support for farmers and agriculture

On the agriculture sector, the minister said more than 300,000 small farmers had received financial assistance at the rate of Rs1,500 per acre.

He said wheat crops had suffered damage due to rain, but added that farmers were provided with the required inputs. He also said the quality of the crop had improved this year.

Transport subsidies and pink scooters

Memon said the provincial government was also working to improve urban transport facilities. In this regard, he said subsidies were being provided for intra-city coaches.

He added that the government was introducing pink scooters in the province as part of its transport-related initiatives.

The minister presented the measures as part of the Sindh government’s broader response to the impact of higher fuel prices on the public and key sectors, particularly agriculture and transport.

During the press conference, he linked the planning of these initiatives to the data gathered through BISP, saying it had enabled the government to design welfare schemes on a large scale.

The measures highlighted by Memon covered multiple areas, including direct financial assistance for small farmers, support for public transport within cities, housing for millions of families and mobility initiatives aimed at expanding transport options.

He said the Benazir Hari Card had been launched to support the farming community, while the financial assistance for small growers was being provided on a per-acre basis. He also reiterated that despite weather-related damage to wheat crops, the government had extended necessary support to farmers and that crop quality had improved this year.

On transport, Memon said the government’s focus remained on strengthening urban mobility through subsidies for intra-city coaches and the planned rollout of pink scooters.