KARACHI, The Sindh cabinet has approved a reduction in the screening-test passing threshold for the Sindh Public Service Commission’s (SPSC) Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) from 40 per cent to 33 per cent, allowing more candidates to qualify for the written examination.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The cabinet also approved raising the upper age limit for CCE candidates from 30 to 33 years and increasing the maximum number of attempts from three to five.
According to a press statement, the measures are aimed at expanding opportunities for candidates and restoring confidence in the recruitment process.
The cabinet also approved the introduction of computer-based testing for one-paper examinations, with results to be issued immediately after the tests. Interview marks will also be revised in line with the ratio followed by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).
A Cabinet Reforms Committee will be established to develop information technology-enabled and artificial intelligence-based reforms for the SPSC. The reform package will also include safeguards against retaliatory action against candidates who participated in recent protests and a mechanism to review allegations of candidates being targeted during interviews.
Property Tax and Development Financing
The cabinet approved the World Bank-supported Sindh Property Revenue Enhancement Programme, backed by $150 million in financing. The programme aims to increase property-tax collection across Karachi’s 25 town municipal corporations from Rs2.3 billion to Rs25.5 billion.
It also approved a €115 million European Investment Bank financing package for the third phase of the Sindh Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project, comprising a €100 million loan and a €15 million grant.
The cabinet approved the transfer of management of DHQ Hospital Sujawal to the Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF) for five years under a public-private partnership, with a first-year requirement of around Rs1 billion.
A five-year extension was also approved for MERF’s management of DHQ Hospital Thatta and seven other facilities. The cabinet further approved the operationalisation of Chanesar Dispensary and Maternity Home as a 24-hour facility through the Indus Hospital and Health Network.
Other Cabinet Decisions
Other decisions included approval of the Sindh Policy for Receipt and Disposal of Natural Gas Royalty In-Kind 2026, amendments to the Sindh Councils Unified Grades (Service) Rules and a request for restoration of Sindh’s 30 per cent share in the national sugar export quota.
The cabinet also granted post-facto approval for declaring Mitha Ram Hostel near Pakistan Chowk a sub-jail for accused persons in the KTC attack cases.
Sindh-China Cooperation
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also briefed the cabinet on his recent visit to China, saying it had opened new opportunities for investment, technology transfer and cooperation in energy, agriculture, water management, education, healthcare and industrial development.
He said Sindh and China’s Hubei province had agreed to deepen their partnership, which began in 2009 and was formalised through a sister-province agreement in 2021.
The cabinet endorsed a proposal to establish a Joint Cooperation Council to coordinate initiatives and advance cooperation in priority sectors.
The provincial delegation also visited the Three Gorges Dam to study its flood-management, electricity-generation and navigation systems.
Shah said the delegation had proposed a sister-city arrangement between Yichang and Sukkur and invited Chinese companies to participate in bidding for the Sukkur Barrage gates.
The cabinet was informed that the Sindh Investment and Trade Conference in Shanghai attracted more than 400 delegates and resulted in 36 memorandums of understanding. Twelve were signed by the Sindh government, five by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company and 19 by private-sector firms, covering energy, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, digital infrastructure, EV charging, education and skills.