WNAM REPORT: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held a meeting with Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan to discuss the development of important sectors, including agriculture, livestock, insurance and Marble City projects.
The meeting, held at the CM House, was attended by Provincial Minister for Industries Jam Ikramullah Dharejo, CM Special Assistant on Investment Qasim Naveed, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Waseef, and Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi. The federal government delegation included Chief Executive TDAP Faiz Ahmed, CEO State Life Insurance Shoaib Javed, CEO NICL Farman Zarqoon and Secretary TDAP Shehryar Taj.
The meeting focused on the development of agriculture, livestock, insurance and Marble City projects.
Agriculture:
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan said that the concept of crop insurance had not previously existed in Pakistan, adding that necessary measures were now being taken to introduce crop insurance.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah stressed that crop financing and insurance were critically important, noting that without proper financing, farmers could not achieve better productivity. He added that the Sindh government was actively working to promote agro-based industries across the province.
Livestock
Special Assistant Qasim Naveed informed the meeting that the Sindh government was transforming the Landhi and Gadap cattle colonies into disease-free zones.
It was decided to further accelerate measures to protect livestock from diseases. The Chief Minister said that work on making cattle colonies disease-free was already underway and assured that complete eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) would be ensured.
Insurance and Gul Plaza Tragedy
The participants expressed deep sorrow and grief over the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah emphasised that large commercial buildings like Gul Plaza must be insured. Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan noted that insured buildings would also undergo regular inspections, which could help prevent major accidents.
The meeting decided to initiate concrete steps for insurance of large plazas and agreed in principle on proposing legislation for insurance of commercial and residential buildings.
Marble City:
The Sindh Chief Minister prioritised Marble City projects as part of a broader economic development agenda. He discussed incentives for ongoing initiatives and announced a new Marble City in Sukkur, further expanding the province’s industrial footprint.
Special Assistant to the CM, Qasim Naveed, stressed the need for Export Development Fund (EDF) support for Marble City Karachi, a dedicated industrial zone aimed at modernising Pakistan’s marble, materials, and minerals sector. Despite Pakistan’s rich marble reserves, exports remain limited due to outdated machinery, lack of common facilities, weak compliance with international standards, and limited access to global markets.
Marble City Karachi aims to address these issues by providing planned infrastructure, shared facilities, and an investor-friendly environment. The project focuses on value addition, modern processing standards, export orientation, and formalising the marble industry – objectives that align with the EDF’s mandate to promote exports through improved infrastructure, technology, skills, and market development.
Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan assured the chief minister that they would work together to develop the marble industry.
