KARACHI, Mar 05 (APP): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and newly appointed British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi Lance Domm discussed Pakistan-UK relations, post-flood rehabilitation, and various socio-economic challenges facing the province here at CM House on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Shah said Sindh remains a province free from extremism and whatever incidents have taken place were not homegrown but involved external sources.
“We take pride in being a province that is free from extremism,” he said, adding that terrorism was not homegrown in Sindh but had infiltrated from external sources.
Discussing Sindh’s progressive and inclusive society, Murad Shah reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to protecting minority rights. “Sindh is an inclusive society, and minorities here enjoy equal rights,” he added.
The CM welcomed the new Deputy High Commissioner and highlighted the long-standing and strong relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
He assured the visiting diplomat of full cooperation from his government in fostering mutual collaboration. In response, Domm expressed gratitude for the warm reception and support extended by the Sindh government.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the rehabilitation efforts following the devastating 2022 floods. Murad Ali Shah said that the primary challenge was restoring the agricultural sector. “We restored agricultural land and provided seeds and fertilisers, resulting in a bumper wheat crop,” he noted.
Shah further said that with assistance from the international community and the World Bank, the construction of homes for flood victims is progressing rapidly. Talking about climate change, he emphasised that Sindh and its people were among the hardest hit by shifting weather patterns.
The chief minister also spoke about the economic challenges in the agriculture sector, noting that the provincial government has increased the agricultural tax from 35 per cent to 45 per cent. He pointed out that due to water shortages, high fertiliser costs, and rising input prices, farming is no longer a highly profitable profession.
The meeting reinforced Sindh’s commitment to strengthening ties with the UK, addressing climate challenges, and ensuring continued efforts for flood rehabilitation and socio-economic progress.