Sindh Real Estate News and Land Insights

Karachi | Renews Pakistan
Whether agriculture contributes enough to Pakistan's tax revenues compared with its share of the economy has long been a recurring debate in the country's economic discourse. However, agricultural experts argue that the sector's tax potential cannot be judged simply by its contribution to GDP, as farmers' actual profitability is shaped by volatile crop prices, yields, input costs, weather shocks and changing market conditions.

They cautioned that treating the value of agricultural production as equivalent to taxable income could produce unrealistic revenue expectations, particularly for Pakistan's millions of small farmers who often sell crops at prices below official or expected rates.

Mahmood Nawaz Shah, President of the Sindh Abadgar Board, said the fundamental distinction in the taxation debate was between economic output and actual farm income. He cited wheat as an example, saying farmers could incur losses even though their production continued to contribute to GDP. During the 2024-25 wheat season, he said, the government announced prices around Rs4,000 per 40 kg and later Rs3,900, while farmers in major producing areas sold wheat at substantially lower rates.

"If the farmer sells below his cost or expected price, how can that production be treated as taxable income?" he asked, arguing "GDP captures the value of production while taxation should ultimately be linked to profitability." Shah said similar questions needed to be examined for cotton, maize, rice and sugarcane, where production, yields and market prices can vary considerably from year to year.

karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) Chairman Kaukab Iqbal has expressed serious concern over the rapidly increasing number of residential and commercial real estate projects being advertised in Karachi and across the country, and called upon the government to introduce immediate and effective legislation to protect citizens' lifelong savings and take strict action against unapproved projects.

Iqbal said that a large number of real estate advertisements were currently being published and aired, promoting new projects and attracting consumers through offers of cars, prizes, discounts and other incentives. However, an ordinary citizen often has no easy way of determining which builder is legally operating, which project has been approved by the relevant authority, and whether the developer actually possesses the required land and legal permissions.

He said that construction, housing and real estate activities were essential for economic growth, but economic activity could not be allowed to take place at the expense of consumers' hard-earned savings. There have been instances where citizens paid substantial amounts for properties, only for projects to remain incomplete, possession to be delayed or their investments to become stuck for years.

The CAP chairman said the government must first establish an effective regulatory framework for all builders and developers, and no person or company should be permitted to launch, advertise, book or collect money from the public for a residential or commercial project without obtaining complete approval from the relevant authority.

He demanded that every real estate advertisement must prominently display the approval number, NOC number and date of approval issued by the competent authority. Where a project falls under the jurisdiction of the Sindh Building Control Authority, a development authority or any other competent institution, these details must be clearly mentioned in the advertisement so that consumers can verify the legal status of a project before investing their money.

Karachi : ReNews Pakistan
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has launched major restoration and beautification work at the historic Soldier Bazaar as part of efforts to revive one of the city’s prominent traditional commercial areas and improve conditions for residents, traders and visitors.
Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab inspected the ongoing restoration work at Soldier Bazaar and said the initiative was aimed at restoring the original character of the historic marketplace, which has suffered from years of encroachments, deterioration and inadequate maintenance.
During his visit, the mayor reviewed progress on the rehabilitation work and said the condition of Soldier Bazaar had deteriorated significantly over time due to prolonged neglect and illegal encroachments.
He said the situation was now gradually improving following the launch of restoration and beautification measures by the metropolitan corporation.
According to the mayor, the project is intended not only to improve the physical appearance of the market but also to create a cleaner, more organised and accessible environment for local residents, shopkeepers and people visiting the area.
Soldier Bazaar is among Karachi’s longstanding commercial localities and has historically served as an important marketplace for surrounding residential communities. However, increasing congestion, encroachments and deterioration of public infrastructure have affected the area over the years.
Wahab said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation would continue working to improve urban areas across the city while simultaneously focusing on the preservation and rehabilitation of historically important locations.
He said providing basic civic facilities, improving public spaces and restoring Karachi’s historic identity remained important components of the municipal administration’s broader development agenda.
The mayor stressed that rehabilitation of older commercial districts could improve both the appearance and functionality of neighbourhoods while providing better conditions for businesses and residents.
He said KMC intended to continue similar improvement initiatives in different parts of Karachi, particularly in areas where deteriorating infrastructure and long-standing civic problems had affected daily life.
Alongside the Soldier Bazaar restoration project, KMC is also carrying out road rehabilitation, repair and reconstruction work in several parts of the metropolis.
Wahab said improving Karachi’s road network was necessary to facilitate smoother traffic movement and make daily commuting easier for residents.
Road rehabilitation work is currently underway around the National Stadium and National Coaching Centre, while repair and reconstruction activities are also being carried out in parts of Orangi Town.
The projects form part of broader infrastructure improvement efforts aimed at addressing damaged roads, easing mobility problems and improving connectivity across different areas of the city.
The mayor said the metropolitan corporation would continue focusing on development and rehabilitation schemes designed to improve Karachi’s urban environment and upgrade civic infrastructure.
The ongoing Soldier Bazaar project represents part of that wider strategy, combining restoration of a historically significant commercial district with improvements intended to make the area more functional, attractive and accessible for the public.