Sindh cabinet extends Rangers deployment for another year

KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet on Tuesday approved a one-year extension in the deployment of Pakistan Rangers in the province to support police in maintaining law and order.

According to an official statement issued after the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the force will remain deployed in Sindh from July 20, 2026, to July 19, 2027. The provincial government has been extending the deployment under Article 147 of the Constitution, which allows the federal government to send civil armed forces to assist a province on its request.

Action against wheat hoarding

Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, accompanied by Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboob-uz-Zaman, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Bakhsh Mehar and Fisheries Minister Muhammad Ali Malkani, said the cabinet had ordered action against wheat hoarders as part of broader measures related to agriculture, food security and rural development.

Memon said Sindh and Punjab had produced bumper wheat crops, but hoarders had tried to create an artificial shortage by buying large stocks directly from growers.

He said the cabinet had decided to seal the warehouses of hoarders and begin a crackdown. The food minister said wheat procurement had been carried out transparently and that Sindh had recorded a historic crop this year. He said the government was taking steps to keep flour prices stable and that strict, across-the-board action would be taken against hoarding and unlawful profiteering.

Memon also said a committee made up of the secretaries of food, agriculture and law had been formed to examine the National Wheat Policy 2026-2030. The cabinet also approved digitisation of the food department, reviewed the draft wheat policy and cleared the final draft of the Sindh Farmers’ Agricultural Collectives Act, 2026.

Sugar sector and other approvals

The senior minister said the cabinet backed conditional deregulation and phased trade liberalisation in the sugar sector, but decided against allowing any new sugar mills in Sindh. He said directions had been issued to preserve the province’s regulatory authority in the sector, safeguard the interests of farmers, consumers and the environment, and ensure effective provincial representation in the relevant commission.

He said the agriculture department had been directed to formally communicate the cabinet’s decision to the federal government.

Memon said the cabinet also approved an agreement between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Aga Khan University to promote inclusive education. The programme includes the establishment of a special education unit at the university, teacher training, research, policymaking, model schools, the development of modern learning resources and government financial support.

He added that the cabinet approved completion of the remaining construction work on the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Flyover in Hyderabad and also cleared decisions linked to infrastructure, welfare, education and governance.

Fisheries, water and governance issues

Memon said the cabinet decided to rename the Marine Conservation Police as the Sindh Fisheries Service to improve monitoring along the coastal belt. He added that approval had also been given for the purchase of three modern speedboats for coastal surveillance.

Speaking on agriculture, Minister Muhammad Bakhsh Mehar said climate change had badly affected the sector and caused major losses to farmers. He said water scarcity had emerged as a serious challenge and there were concerns about even greater shortages ahead.

Responding to questions, Memon said most people in Sindh depended on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods while the province was facing acute water shortages. He alleged that India was openly violating the Indus Waters Treaty and said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had effectively presented Pakistan’s case on the Indus River internationally. He added that the treaty was irrevocable.

On wheat stocks, he said no complaint had been received about the disappearance of wheat from Sindh.

In response to another question, Memon said the labour minister had pointed out corruption and irregularities in his department, after which immediate action was taken. He also said illegal advance payments had been made in the Yellow Line BRT project.

Asked about the Benazir Income Support Programme, he said it was an effective social protection initiative, though there was room to make it more comprehensive and efficient.

Commenting on MQM-P’s position, Memon said that if the party was serious it should leave federal ministries and begin practical protests over shortages of water, gas and electricity in Sindh. He said any announcement of separation from the federal cabinet should be followed by action.