WE must appreciate the decision of President Asif Ali Zardari who urged the British government to send a team of its experts to see what improvements could be made to the Sukkur Barrage to enable it to withstand the onslaught of future floods (Sept 2).Talking to British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who called on him at Sukkur, the president said that as the Sukkur Barrage was built by the British in 1932, their experts were better placed to give advice on what improvements could be made to the 80-year-old barrage. Mr Clegg accepted the president's suggestion and promised to send a team of British experts.

During the time of the previous government the structure of Sukkur Barrage was in danger of being washed out but a team of army experts repaired it in an emergency. The then president, while talking to a group of editors in Islamabad, told them that repair work carried out to the structure was of temporarily nature and there was a possibility of the barrage structure being washed out in future.

Completed in 1932, Sukkur Barrage is the backbone of the economy of Sindh. No major work meant to update it was carried out and even its maintenance was not up to the mark. Many of its gates are either closed or damaged.

The accumulating silt is an obstacle in the smooth flow of water, besides endangering the structure.

Therefore, there is no harm in inviting British experts who would provide us technical advice on how to keep the whole structure intact during the onslaught of ensuing flood etc.

MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL
Karachi