KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet, led by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, has approved a 7.5% increase in the provincial minimum wage, alongside measures to bolster food security and governance. The meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s House with provincial ministers, advisers, senior officials, and the Chief Secretary in attendance. Officials projected a wheat deficit of approximately 1.69 million metric tonnes, with total availability estimated at 4.84 million tonnes against a yearly requirement of 6.53 million tonnes. The cabinet also approved a 7.5% hike in the minimum wage, effective from July 1, 2026. The new monthly wage for unskilled workers will increase from Rs.40,000 to Rs.43,000, with similar adjustments for semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled workers across notified industrial and commercial sectors in Sindh.