THE city of Sukkur, located on the bank of the Indus, is home to historical monuments, state-of-the-art gigantic Lloyd Barrage, the largest irrigation network of the world, and the pillarless Lansdowne Bridge, a 19th century marvel once famous for its magnificence.

Unfortunately, the political tug-of-war between the influentials has left this beautiful city amid heaps of garbage, overflowing drain water, broken roads and mushroom growth of encroachments as reported in Dawn (April 16).

As details go, the entire development funds given to officials of the city government have been pocketed by them instead of being utilised.

Although Sukkur has the distinction of being the hometown of influential political families, the woes of its people have increased many times instead of mitigating, as detailed in the above report.

Being the second largest city of Sindh with the potential of becoming a major trade centre of the country, Sukkur needs better treatment from those who have acquired riches and attained power and influence in the polity of the country.

I hope the guardians of the city will shun petty and vested interests and join hands for its progress and development so that there is a revival of social, educational and intellectual activities, for which Sukkur was famous in the past.

ALTAMASH M. KURESHI
Karachi