KARACHI: The Sindh government on Thursday decided to abolish 14 Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) across the province, citing low caseloads and improved law and order, and re-designate them as anti-narcotics courts to address rising drug-related cases. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
The cabinet approved the home department’s proposal to convert 13 of Karachi’s 20 ATCs and one in Hyderabad into special courts dedicated to expediting narcotics-related trials. The re-designation will also establish special courts across Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, and Larkana divisions. Remaining ATCs in Sindh will be reorganised to ensure efficient handling of pending cases. The move is in line with Section 13 of the Anti-Terrorism (Sindh Amendment) Act, 2025, which allows the provincial government to modify the court system as required.
In another key decision, the cabinet approved the establishment of the Sindh Centre for Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism under the home department. The centre will focus on preventing violent extremism, terrorism, militancy, and other subversive activities in the province, following the enactment of the Sindh Centre for Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Act, 2025.
The cabinet approved the establishment of a community health company and the creation of a Sindh government cloud.https://t.co/XO8IZha0bf
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 21, 2025
The cabinet also cleared a $15 million grant for the new 12-storey Emergency Tower at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi. The total estimated cost of the tower is $35 million, with a consortium of Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) and JPMC donors contributing $20 million for construction. The Sindh government’s grant will cover utilities and medical equipment, to be released in two instalments of $7.5 million each.
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Other decisions included approval for establishing a community health company, creating a Sindh government cloud, and in-principle approval for procuring the Habib Insurance/HBL heritage building on M.A. Jinnah Road for a Sindh IT Tower. Relevant assessments from NED University, the Board of Revenue, and the Culture Department have been directed before finalising the project.
The cabinet also approved the allocation of 639 residential plots to Karachi Press Club members in Hawksbay Scheme-42, New Malir Housing Scheme-I (Block 12), and Taiser Town Scheme-45 (Sectors 22 and 23), in accordance with the existing 80/20 cost-sharing policy.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah further announced that cabinet meetings will now be held every fortnight, with the next session scheduled for December 2.
These measures reflect Sindh’s dual focus on strengthening law enforcement for narcotics control and enhancing public infrastructure, particularly in healthcare and technology sectors.
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