
CM lists progress in health, education
During a presentation, held at the CM House, Shah said that the government has achieved remarkable progress over the past year through digital transformation, infrastructure development, and agricultural advancements. He added that these initiatives have impacted public services, business facilitation, and socio-economic growth.
Healthcare
The healthcare sector has seen remarkable progress, including technological enhancements and expanded services. The NICVD Karachi treated 1.4 million patients and performed over 5,000 surgeries, while the Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD) launched a cardiac emergency centre in Baldia Town and a stroke program in Sukkur. The Institute of Medical Science Gambat excelled in organ transplants, completing over 200 liver and 100 kidney transplants.
Hospitals like JPMC, DUHS, and Indus are expanding services with new technologies, such as robotic systems for surgery and cancer treatment. The Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma treated 70,000 patients, while the Sindh Institute of Child Health & Neonatology opened new ICUs and pediatric units. A major focus on pediatric emergency care has reduced infant mortality to 2.9% in Sindh, better than the national average of 5.4%.
Digital transformation
The Sindh police implemented the S4 system, which includes facial recognition cameras at 42 toll plazas. The Excise & Taxation Department introduced an online vehicle tax system, generating Rs640 million, which has funded the construction of 2,100 houses for flood victims.
Digital initiatives also extended to business facilitation. The Sindh government launched the CLICK Karobar app, allowing entrepreneurs to navigate 130 licences and permits in 16 departments. An e-licensing portal is also set to streamline approvals for businesses.
Education & IT
The People's Information Technology Program (PITP) awarded scholarships to 13,428 students, with 2,528 securing jobs. The government trained 3,000 university students and 200 teachers across various regions, and 1,500 graduates completed an IT boot camp, with 870 becoming self-employed.
Infra & road development
The province's infrastructure received a major boost with 196 new roads constructed, covering over 2,500 kilometres, and 120 roads repaired after flood damage. Key projects like the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Road and Tharparkar-Alibandar Road were completed.
Water management & agriculture
The Sindh Irrigation Department established the Hydroinformatics Centre for better water management, and 251 kilometres of watercourses were lined to improve irrigation. In agriculture, the government distributed solar-powered tube-wells, agricultural tools, and kitchen gardening kits to empower farmers, including 900 women.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Express Tribune
Nausheen Shah shares hard-won lessons from depression
Nausheen Shah has spoken candidly about her battle with depression, describing a long and difficult period that kept her away from work and public life. In a recent appearance on Hasna Mana Hai, the actor discussed her mental health struggles and her decision to quietly step back from the entertainment industry. Responding to host Tabish Hashmi's question about her absence from films, Shah explained that she had been dealing with severe depression that affected her ability to function. "My functionality was disturbed a lot. I could not eat, sleep or process things around me. I felt a strange fear, it was very dark. It is a miracle I got out of it," she said. For Shah, the illness was not marked by sadness alone but by a profound emotional numbness. "You have normal emotions where you can feel happy, sad or excited, but if you feel depressed to the point that you cannot process any emotion and feel blank, then that's serious," she said. "That is the stage where it's important to refer to a doctor." The experience, she recalled, left her disoriented and unable to engage with the world around her. "I would just nod to what the next person was saying, not really taking in what they are saying or feeling because of the chemical imbalances in my brain. I lost all functionality and couldn't explain the feeling to others either," she said. "It felt like a dark hole. I would be in bed for 60 to 70 days and I would get so worried if my mother even tried to leave my bedside." Shah has previously spoken about her mental healthin 2019, she described a seven-year struggle with depression and anxiety. Her recent remarks offer a more detailed glimpse into what that period looked like, and how she eventually began to recover. She also used the platform to encourage others to pay attention to their mental well-being. "If you feel happy or sad then that's normal. But if you come to a point where there is a happy or sad occasion and you just don't feel anything, then acknowledge it at that point," she said. "Seek professional help, it is very important. If you don't seek professional help and continue to self-treat, the condition can get worse." Now on the other side of her darkest days, Shah is preparing to return to work. She will soon make her film debut as Chandni in the upcoming feature Jhol.


Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Express Tribune
It is a miracle I got out of it: Nausheen Shah opens up about battle with depression
Actor Nausheen Shah made a candid appearance on Tabish Hashmi's popular talk show Hasna Mana Hai, where she opened up about her time away from the screen and her struggle with severe depression. When asked by Hashmi about her noticeable absence from showbiz over the past year or two, he jokingly suggested she had 'gone underground in hiding.' Shah responded with honesty and grace, revealing that she had been unwell and spent the time healing. 'I had been going through some things and hadn't been feeling well for some time,' she shared, adding that she had used the time to recover. The good news? The Deewar-e-Shab star is now 'absolutely 100% ready to get back to work.' In a powerful and moving conversation, Shah spoke about how her depression had begun to impact her daily life and basic functioning. 'I could not eat, sleep or process things around me. I felt a strange fear, it was very dark. It is a miracle I got out of it.' She went on to explain how the illness left her numb to her surroundings and unable to experience or process emotions as she normally would. But more than just sharing her own experience, Shah used the opportunity to educate viewers on recognising the early signs of depression. Listing the standard range of emotions a person typically feels, such as happiness, sadness and excitement, she encouraged those watching to be alert to significant changes. 'If you are struggling to function on a daily basis and know you are experiencing inexplicable emotions out of the ordinary, that is when you must seek help from a doctor.' Additionally, she stressed the importance of turning to professionals instead of relying on self-treatment, cautioning that the latter can often do more harm than good. 'It may be counterproductive and only escalate matters,' she said. This is not the first time Nausheen Shah has spoken publicly about her mental health journey. In 2019, she bravely opened up about her seven-year battle with depression and anxiety. At the time, she credited fellow actor Shahroze Sabzwari for saving her life by referring her to a doctor who offered real help—unlike others she had previously seen who prescribed only addictive anti-anxiety medication. As she steps back into the spotlight, we can't wait to see the gifted actor light up our screens once again!


Business Recorder
23-06-2025
- Business Recorder
WHO's stepped up higher tax drive may fuel illicit cigarette trade
LAHORE: As the World Health Organisation (WHO) intensified its global drive for greater tobacco taxes, there are growing concerns in Pakistan that the strategy may have the opposite impact. While intended to reduce smoking, the WHO's tax-centric approach is exacerbating an already rampant illicit cigarette trade, harming legitimate businesses, depleting public cash, and undermining regulatory integrity, experts of the industry said. Pakistan has become a case study of unforeseen effects. Despite heavy taxation in accordance with WHO recommendations, the market has seen a noticeable shift toward illicit cigarette consumption, they said. It may be added that legal tobacco companies now control less than half of the market, although accounting for roughly 98% of the industry's tax revenue. Untaxed and unregulated brands have invaded retail shelves across the country, often selling for less than the legal minimum price and without tax stamps. 'The illicit cigarette trade has now overtaken the legitimate sector, comprising 58% of the total market. Pakistan's annual consumption is around 82 billion sticks, yet only 34 billion are taxed, down sharply from 67 billion a decade ago,' said Asad Shah, Director at Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC). Shah noted that tax revenue potential from the sector stands at around PKR 570 billion annually, but actual collection reached just PKR 292 billion in FY 2023–24 and only PKR 223 billion in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year. Although the WHO acknowledges illicit trade as a challenge, its policy guidance continues to emphasize taxation over enforcement. 'It's burdening compliant manufacturers while failing to curtail illicit and smuggled brands,' Shah added. Experts said that public health objectives must be pursued alongside strong enforcement mechanisms, not only tax increases. Without this balance, the policy risks facilitating tax evasion, undermining investor confidence, and eroding public trust in the regulatory system. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025