Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the estimated cost of rebuilding homes of flood-affected people was more than our province’s annual budget, but we received the first aid from the World Bank, and in just a week, we managed to collect $900 million from the federal government and the World Bank. Addressing the Asia Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum 2026 in Karachi, he said that the Asia Pacific region is an extraordinary region with captivating landscapes and lively communities. “From bustling cities to rural areas, this region is home to millions of people, and its resilience, culture, and creative abilities are inspiring to us all,” he said.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah praised the international and national community and said that everyone has gathered here with a shared resolve to resolve the issues of shelter and settlement. “I am proud that Sindh is hosting this forum with the world’s largest housing reconstruction program, and today, people from all over the world have come to see the expansion and impact of the program,” he said.
The Sindh Chief Minister said that last week, the President of the World Bank visited SPHAF, and the world’s attention focused on Sindh because we delivered results. “We built houses in record time, and we maintained the quality of the recovery process, and Sindh’s unique approach and international attention are due to our focus on the vulnerable segment of society,” he said.
Syed Murad Ali Shah said that families, especially women, were given leadership roles in the recovery process, and as a result, ownership, dignity, and social change were achieved. “This perspective shows the world that community trust and empowering communities can make recovery easy,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that SPHAF has shown that large-scale recovery, innovation, and social change are possible, and families are not just recipients but active participants in their recovery.
Syed Murad Ali Shah thanked all international and national partners and experts and said that we will continue to work towards a future where every family has safe and dignified shelter. “The biggest complaint of the affected people was that they were given houses, and the Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s promise was fulfilled,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that in the past, there was no focus on permanent housing solutions after floods, and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto started working on it, but initially, it seemed like a superficial thing. “In the 2010 floods, the entire province was flooded, and in the 2022 floods, widespread damage was caused, and initially, it seemed like a big task,” he said.
Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the Chairman Bilawal Bhutto started working on it, and the World Bank joined the program, and the estimated cost of rebuilding houses was $6 billion, but we received support from the World Bank.
He said that the Sindh government has decided to seal high-risk buildings that violate fire safety laws. “In the past week, there have been over 650 reported cases of dog bites in Karachi,” he said.
The federal government has formed a high-level committee to finalize proposed amendments to the Pharmacy Act 1967. The results of the 13th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh are still coming in. ICC has imposed a penalty on Mohammad Nabi for violating the ICC Code of Conduct.
In a statement on social media platform X, Shafiqur Rahman alleged that attempts were made to cast fake votes in different regions of the country. The UAE has banned soft drinks, chocolates, and potato chips in schools.
In Saudi Arabia, new ministers, public prosecutors, and other appointments were made, and several were retired, according to Saudi media. Senior Indian singer Aditya Narayan faces new charges in a year-old case, in which his first wife Rujana Jha alleged that he performed an abortion on her without her consent.
