KARACHI: The World Bank (WB) has agreed to provide technical assistance to the Sindh government for preparing PC-1 of the project for construction of an alternative barrage to the 89-year-old Sukkur Barrage, it emerged on Friday.

Informed sources said that in a virtual meeting, WB Country Director Najy Binhassine told Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah that the bank experts would visit the barrage very soon and after the visit and necessary discussion, technical assistance would be provided for the PC-1 of the project.

They said the CM urged the WB to provide technical assistance for conducting a feasibility study for the construction of an alternative to the Sukkur Barrage.

He said: “This feasibility study component is a part of the World Bank sponsored Sindh Barrage Improvement Project and we are seriously considering constructing the new barrage and an alternate to the old Sukkur Barrage, which is the lifeline of agro-economy of the province.”

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2021