Sindh

NAB recovered Rs2.45 trillion worth of state assets in Q2 2026, including 1,078,283 acres of land across multiple provinces, through AI-powered investigations and collaborations with government bodies. The six-month recovery total reached Rs5.41 trillion, with NAB transitioning to automated, AI-based processes for investigations.

Cotton production in Pakistan rose 32.33% year-on-year by July 31, driven by a 66.82% surge in Sindh despite a 1.1% decline in Punjab. Discrepancies exist between the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) and Punjab government data, while sugarcane expansion in Bahawalpur Division is cited as a threat to domestic cotton cultivation.

Pakistan’s electoral rolls decreased by 589,458 voters between May 7 and July 2, 2026, as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) removed 1.48 million deceased voters. Punjab and Sindh recorded the largest declines, with Punjab accounting for 81.2% of the nationwide reduction.

Iranian oil smuggling into Pakistan has dropped by 60% following attacks on tankers in Balochistan, which caused significant losses for smugglers. The smuggling decline coincides with the US-Israeli war on Iran, which disrupted global oil transit via the Strait of Hormuz and increased crude oil prices. Pakistan avoided fuel rationing despite reduced smuggling, maintaining a 25-day oil reserve.

Pakistan's Flood Forecasting Division warns of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan until August 4, with risks of low-level flooding in the Indus River and potential flash flooding in hill torrents and urban areas. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority is monitoring river levels and issuing monsoon safety advisories.

PPP leader Saeed Ghani accused PML-N of rigging every election they won, citing instances in 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2008, 2013, and 2024. He claimed the PPP was targeted in these elections and emphasized his party's stance against creating new provinces in Sindh while supporting Punjab's requests.

Parts of Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan face urban flooding risks due to rising water levels in Tarbela and Mangla dams amid monsoon rains. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported 45 deaths in Punjab from flooding, with medium to high flood levels in key rivers and nullahs.

Punjab has outsourced 18,000 primary schools to the private sector, with plans to expand to middle and high schools, colleges, and potentially universities. The policy is part of a broader outsourcing trend in education and health sectors across provinces like Sindh, driven by cost considerations, though challenges like rising costs and regulatory needs are highlighted.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged political parties to resolve disputes over administrative units and provinces, stating the current system has collapsed. Conflicting demands for new provinces, including Karachi as a separate entity and South Punjab, highlight tensions between political parties.

Recurring floods in Pakistan have caused significant disruptions to education and health systems, displacing millions of children and exacerbating issues like child marriage. The 2022 and 2025 floods destroyed thousands of schools, increased out-of-school rates, and linked to an 18% rise in child marriages, disproportionately affecting girls.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz praised PML-N's victory in the first phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections and urged the PPP to accept defeat. She criticized the PPP for alleging election rigging, arguing that the PPP's governance in AJK had worsened conditions and failed to deliver results.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts a fresh monsoon rain spell from July 29 to August 5, affecting multiple regions including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Sindh, with varying intensities of rainfall and thundershowers. The forecast highlights potential flooding risks in areas already impacted by previous rains.

MQM-P intensifies campaign for new provinces, citing governance failures in Sindh. Party chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and senior leader Mustafa Kamal separately highlighted demands for administrative reforms, with internal rifts noted as they did not attend each other's events.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasted monsoon rain and thunderstorms across Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Azad Kashmir from July 24-28 due to an active monsoon system. Rain and thundershowers, including heavy falls, are expected in multiple districts, with partly cloudy conditions in some areas of Balochistan.

3,172 gender-based violence cases were reported in Pakistan from January to June 2026, with murders, torture, and abductions being the most common. Punjab accounted for 74% of cases, followed by Sindh with 17%, and 10 districts were identified as most vulnerable.

Punjab reported 15 out of 22 documented threats against journalists between April and June 2026, with state institutions identified as the primary threat in 68% of cases. The Freedom Network review highlighted a 22% increase in threats compared to the first quarter, particularly targeting journalists covering governance, corruption, and public interest issues.

A Senate panel in Pakistan questioned the allocation of flood rehabilitation funds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), noting that Mardan received more road projects than severely affected districts like Upper Dir, Lower Dir, and Chitral. The committee also raised concerns about World Bank 'interference' in a Sindh project and criticized disparities in reconstruction efforts.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari pledged to represent the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the federal government and internationally, criticizing the current political leadership for failing to bridge the gap between AJK and the center. He proposed a truth and reconciliation commission to resolve AJK's issues and urged both the government and protesters to halt actions until the commission addresses grievances.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts widespread monsoon rains, thunderstorms, and windstorms across multiple regions of Pakistan from July 18 to July 25, with warnings of potential damage from strong winds, lightning, and flash floods in mountainous and hilly areas.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah stated that the NFC share allocated to provinces declined this year due to their financial support to the federal government. The Sindh government allocated Rs9 billion for Karachi’s industrial zones, including Rs2 billion for KATI, while concerns were raised about the Yellow Line BRT project's impact on Korangi Industrial Area.

Khanzadi Kapri, founder of Aurat Sujag, highlights how recurring floods in rural Sindh, Pakistan, disrupt girls' education, with many failing to return to school after disasters. Despite rebuilding efforts, schools often lack teachers, infrastructure, and resources, leaving girls' education permanently impacted.

An HIV outbreak at Valika Hospital in Sindh, linked to safety lapses including non-compliance with infection-control protocols and mishandling of medical equipment, has resulted in 78 children testing positive. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah ordered a province-wide review of infection practices and directed accountability measures for officials involved.

The PPP staged Sindh-wide rallies condemning India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and its plans to divert Pakistani waters. The party emphasized protecting Pakistan's water rights under the IWT, with leaders like Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari advocating for global advocacy and public mobilization.

Provincial tax collections in Pakistan show significant disparities, with Punjab most dependent on GST at 69.6%, while Sindh's revenue is more diversified due to trade-related taxes like Infrastructure Development Cess. Despite reforms expanding taxable services, revenue mobilization remains weak in property, stamp duty, and vehicle taxes, particularly in Sindh.

The federal government confirmed no wheat shortage, citing achieved seasonal production targets with output 1.36 million metric tonnes higher than last year. Provincial representatives reported sufficient stocks nationwide, and officials warned against hoarding and price manipulation.

The Pakistani budget provides tax relief for high-income salaried employees earning over Rs200,000 monthly but overlooks the majority of households earning less than Rs100,000. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) allocates Rs838 billion, increasing quarterly payouts to Rs18,000 for 10 million low-income families, while power sector subsidies and education/health allocations remain insufficient for broader economic needs.

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) declared force majeure for three weeks due to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) supply to Punjab's power plants. This could cause power shortages, increased loadshedding, and higher reliance on costly spot markets. Qatar Energy, the supplier, cited unresolved regional conflicts and safety concerns as reasons for delayed LNG deliveries.

A World Bank report on the NFC Award post-18th Amendment highlights that 80% of provincial spending in health and education goes toward salaries, with minimal improvement in service indicators. Local government funding has declined significantly, and provinces have failed to establish fair distribution mechanisms, while political parties have entrenched power in their respective provinces through patronage systems.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts rain, thunderstorms, and windstorms across northern and central regions, with urban flooding concerns in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Moist currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, combined with a westerly wave, will affect multiple provinces from Monday night to Wednesday, while Sindh remains mostly dry with isolated storms.

Pakistan faces a multidimensional security crisis marked by escalating urban crime, organized criminal syndicates, terrorism, and overlapping militant and criminal economies. The country's outdated colonial-era policing system, hindered by political interference and lack of reforms, relies on coercive legislation like the Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behavior Bill, 2026, instead of effective policing. Major cities now experience increased violent crime, extortion, and sporadic terrorist attacks, with kidnapping for ransom rising in Balochistan and KP, and similar trends in Sindh and Punjab.

MQM-P warns of potential protests if the federal government does not ensure implementation of its 2022 agreement with PPP on Sindh-related issues. The 18-point deal, signed before a coalition ousted Imran Khan, remains unfulfilled, with MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar urging the Centre to act under its constitutional role.

Pakistan's unified agriculture income tax regime collected only Rs5.62bn, less than 2% of declared agricultural income, highlighting systemic failures due to political resistance and institutional weaknesses. Provincial governments, influenced by landed elites, failed to enforce the tax effectively despite IMF-backed reforms.

The World Bank's study 'Strengthening Fiscal Federalism in Pakistan' critically evaluates the seventh NFC Award, highlighting issues like arbitrary resource distribution and increased provincial spending on wages and pensions without corresponding improvements in social services. While acknowledging some strengths, the report argues the NFC Award has contributed to a structural federal fiscal deficit and failed to align financing with public functions.

Pakistan experienced a decline in overall anti-state violence and fatalities in June 2026, according to PICSS, despite high-profile attacks including four suicide bombings. Security forces killed 184 militants, while civilian and security personnel deaths dropped by 27% and 62% respectively compared to May.

PPP and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) announced an electoral alliance to contest the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections. The decision followed a meeting between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, emphasizing peaceful democratic resolution of AJK issues and coalition governance in multiple regions.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts nationwide monsoon rainfall beginning in the first week of July, with scattered rain, windstorms, and thunderstorms expected across multiple regions. The rains, while crucial for replenishing water supplies, pose risks of floods, landslides, and infrastructure damage in vulnerable areas.

The article discusses the neglect of local governance (LGs) in Pakistan, with political parties PPP and PML-N blaming each other for delays in holding local elections. It highlights structural gaps in governance, the need for constitutional clarity, and the importance of devolving power to local bodies for effective civic management.

PPP announced local government elections in Sindh will be held in 2027, sparking a dispute with PML-N over election patterns in Punjab and Islamabad. PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari challenged PML-N to hold local polls in 90 days, while PML-N's Saad Rafique opposed adopting Sindh's model. PPP emphasized its past success in Sindh's local governance.

Sindh's proposed Rs3.5 trillion budget projects a Rs37 billion deficit, with development spending cut by 30% despite infrastructure gaps. Literacy and school enrollment rates in Sindh remain significantly lower than in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the province has failed to improve key development indicators over 15 years of PPP governance.

Pakistan's mango exports are expected to decline by 30% due to reduced demand in the Gulf and rising shipping costs linked to the Middle East crisis. Domestic sales are also falling as inflation deters local purchases, impacting farmers and exporters reliant on the region's key markets.