The Sindh cabinet has approved the introduction of a toll on the 135-kilometre Nawabshah-Ranipur Mehran Highway to generate dedicated funds for the road’s maintenance, rehabilitation, and future development.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. Officials said the toll system will primarily apply to heavy and commercial vehicles using the highway.
According to the provincial government, the toll is expected to generate gross annual revenue of around Rs2.14 billion. After operational expenses, the estimated net revenue is projected to reach Rs1.48 billion annually.
The cabinet was informed that the dualisation of the Mehran Highway is currently under way at an estimated cost of Rs41 billion. Officials said all toll collections will be used exclusively for the operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and further improvement of the highway and its related infrastructure.
In another major decision, the cabinet approved the import of 0.5 million metric tons of wheat through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan to help address Sindh’s projected wheat shortage of 1.69 million metric tons during the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The provincial government also approved a 7.5 percent increase in the minimum wage, effective from July 1, 2026. The monthly minimum wage for unskilled workers has been raised from Rs40,000 to Rs43,000, while wages for semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled workers have also been increased.
The cabinet further discussed the proposed Sindh Government Lands Management Bill, 2026, which seeks to replace the Colonisation of Government Lands Act, 1912, with a modern legal framework for land management and allotment.
The proposed legislation includes market-based land valuation, transparent public auctions, clear allotment criteria, stronger enforcement measures, and a grievance redressal mechanism. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah constituted a committee to review the draft law before it is presented to the provincial assembly for final approval.
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