SUKKUR: Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro has said that the ongoing work to upgrade different installations at Sukkur Barrage will extend its lifespan by 30 years.

He noted that a hefty amount of Rs17 billion was being spent on the World Bank-funded project for the repair and restoration, as well as replacement of 44 gates, of the barrage.

While the work is scheduled to be completed by June this year, the replacement of canal pocket gates and certain other gates would be completed within the next year, according to him.

The minister was speaking to media personnel after receiving a briefing from the senior barrage officials and engineers at the site on Monday.

He also inspected the repair, restoration and gates replacement work, and expressed his satisfaction over the pace and progress of the works.

He said that in all, 60 gates of the barrage were being replaced.

“While 17 gates were replaced by June 2025, the target of replacing 27 others will be achieved by June this year,” he said.

In reply to a question about recent damage to the cofferdam, Mr Shoro said its repair, restoration and strengthening had since been completed.

The minister pointed out that the barrage is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy as it provides water to 90pc of Sindh’s lands.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026