THE Lloyd Barrage, now Sukkur Barrage, was inaugurated in 1932. It is a marvel of engineering that transformed the agri-cultural economy of Sindh and became a proud symbol of Pakistan’s infrastructural history. Decades later, the nearby Sukkur Bypass Bridge, rather than complementing this heritage, stands as a stark example of aesthetic insensitivity, administrative negligence, and, now, even legal irregularity.

Constructed under the supervision of the National Highway Authority (NHA), the bypass bridge was designed by a private firm with international consultancy. Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at an estimated cost of Rs270 million, the project was completed on Sept 7, 2012.

What was supposed to be a modern infrastructural addition turned out to be a visual intrusion next to the historic barrage. The bridge lacks not only design inspiration, but also basic sensitivity to its surroundings. It has not uplifted the site; it has degraded it.

As if the poor design was not enough, a large iron wall is now being erected along the barrage-facing side of the bridge. The initial justification was to prevent people from halting their vehicles to enjoy the view, supposedly causing traffic congestion. However, when the NHA was contacted, officials said the wall was not their initiative. It was reportedly being installed on the instructions of the bureaucratic machinery, with the Sindh Irrigation Department claiming it was for the security of Chinese engineers working in the area. Regardless of the reason, no formal approval has ever been obtained from the NHA which makes it an en-croachment and a legal violation.

Instead of promoting local tourism and creating viewing points at such a historic site, we are erecting metal walls to block the view. In most countries, such heritage locations are celebrated, preserved, and made accessible to the public.

Here, we are hiding such views behind iron sheets. The iron wall along the Sukkur Barrage is not just metal, it is a symbolic curtain pulled over our inability to build with vision, respect and responsibility.

Dr Abdul Qadeer Memon
Naushahro Feroze

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2025