Sindh Cabinet Approves Major Legal and Administrative Reforms

The Sindh Cabinet has sanctioned a series of significant administrative and legislative measures, including the introduction of digital property registration facilities for overseas Pakistanis, localisation of the provincial e-stamping system, a structured mechanism for resolving the long-standing infrastructure cess dispute, and the designation of consumer courts as traffic courts across the province.

The meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, also approved land-use conversion for the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit project, expansion of protected forest areas in the Indus Delta region, reorganisation of police territorial jurisdictions, establishment of a dedicated fruit and vegetable market in Larkana, and formal ratification of specialised judicial appointments.

To facilitate non-resident Pakistanis, the Cabinet approved the Sindh Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025, tabled by the Board of Revenue. The proposed amendments extend execution of sale deeds to Pakistani diplomatic missions and embassies abroad, thereby eliminating the mandatory in-person appearance of overseas Pakistanis at sub-registrar offices within Sindh.

Verification under the amended framework will be conducted through a Nadra-integrated e-registration system. The mechanism introduces biometric authentication, including thumb impression and facial recognition, at any sub-registrar office or People’s Service Centre, irrespective of territorial limits, significantly enhancing procedural flexibility and compliance safeguards.

Additionally, the Cabinet authorised the transfer of the provincial e-stamping system from the Punjab Information Technology Board to the Sindh Information Technology Company (SITC). A five-year master service agreement has been proposed with SITC at a monthly service charge of Rs7 million, subject to an annual escalation of 10%.

The upgraded framework envisages the rollout of a dedicated mobile application, transition toward paperless stamp duty, CNIC-linked stamp issuance, and implementation of two-factor authentication protocols. The system is also set to be integrated with institutions including the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), the Central Depository Company (CDC), and insurance providers to enhance transparency and streamline revenue realisation.

In a move aimed at expediting adjudication of traffic offences, the Cabinet approved designation of consumer courts as traffic courts in each district. This follows the insertion of a new provision in the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2025, enabling specialised and summary proceedings for traffic violations without necessitating the establishment of additional judicial forums