KARACHI: In a significant policy shift, the Sindh Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, has approved a relaxation of the upper age limit for government job applicants and passed two critical legislative bills returned by the Governor with observations.

According to a statement by Sindh Governor House, the cabinet meeting, attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, and key secretaries, resulted in the approval of the Sindh Civil Servants (Relaxation of Upper Age Limit) Rules. This approval mandates the Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department (SGA and CD) to notify new rules allowing substantial age relaxations for candidates. The rules permit government servants with two years of continuous service, widows, and persons with disabilities, among others, up to five years of age relaxation.

The Sindh Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill 2025 was also a focal point of the meeting. The Governor had returned the bill, questioning its alignment with Article 175(2) of the Constitution, which limits courts’ jurisdiction to that conferred by law. Despite these reservations, the cabinet passed the bill, citing the need to alleviate the Sindh High Court’s burden by empowering district courts to handle more civil cases.

In addition, the Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws (Amendment) Bill was addressed, which expands the criteria for Vice Chancellor appointments in public universities. The Governor raised concerns about the removal of the PhD requirement, aligning with the Federal Higher Education Commission’s guidelines. However, the cabinet emphasized that the bill maintains rigorous academic and experience criteria, including a Master’s degree with notable research and publication records.

These legislative developments reflect the cabinet’s intent to streamline administrative processes and improve judicial and educational systems in Sindh, while addressing the Governor’s concerns through careful deliberation and amendments.