SUKKUR: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday inaugurated the just completed phase of the Sukkur Barrage rehabilitation project. He appreciated the Sindh Barrages Improvement Programme (SBIP), Chinese and Pakistan engineers and all others concerned on achieving the progress of work beyond the targets set for the 2025–26 working season.
The Rs23.436bn Sukkur Barrage rehabilitation and modernisation project is a flagship component of the SBIP aimed at safeguarding the country’s vital irrigation structure.
CM Shah inspected the rehabilitated sections, reviewed progress on various other components, and witnessed the extensive modernisation works undertaken over the past year.
He was accompanied by Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Sindh Assembly Speaker Awais Qadir Shah, veteran PPP leader Syed Khursheed Ali Shah, Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero, and other ministers and senior party leaders, besides officials of the irrigation department, project management teams, consultants and engineers.
Appreciates BISP, all consultants and engineers for achieving success in fast-tracked phase; terms barrage modernisation a milestone in ensuring Sindh’s water security, livelihood of millions
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony and later to media personnel, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah described the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Sukkur Barrage as a “milestone for Sindh’s water security and agricultural future”. He said the 2025-26 working season was fast-tracked by the provincial government to safeguard the irrigation network — one of South Asia’s most important irrigation systems.
He said the upgraded barrage would enhance flood resilience, improve irrigation efficiency and secure the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of farming families across the province.
The overhaul being carried out at a cost of Rs23.436bn would usher in a new era in Sindh’s water security, he said.
The CM said that following the failure of gate Nos. 44 and 47 in June 2024, his government had decided to compress two working seasons of rehabilitation into a single season by constructing a large temporary cofferdam.
This strategic decision, he noted, significantly reduced the risk of failure of more gates and accelerated project implementation.
While the Guddu Barrage Rehabilitation Project had been successfully completed at a cost of Rs9.585 billion, the work on the Sukkur Barrage overhaul, rehabilitation and modernisation is progressing with a total investment of Rs23.436 billion, he said.
“The Sindh government has exceeded the original targets of the project. Against the planned replacement of 32 gates, we have successfully replaced 44 gates, demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding Sindh’s water infrastructure,” he said.
“For the first time in nearly a century, the barrage floor and associated infrastructure have undergone comprehensive rehabilitation, ensuring the safety and sustainability of this lifeline for millions of people dependent on Sindh’s irrigation network,” CM Shah said.
He noted that nearly 60 per cent of Sindh’s population lives in rural areas and depends directly or indirectly on the water supplied through the barrage system.
“The livelihoods of more than 600,000 farming families and a significant portion of Pakistan’s food security depend on the water distributed through Sukkur Barrage,” he said.
Murad Ali Shah directed the irrigation department to maintain the highest standards of quality, safety and transparency during the remaining phases of the project and to ensure their timely completion by June 2027.
The chief minister also lauded the valuable contribution rendered by former SBIP project director Mr Pritam Das, acknowledging his dedication and leadership in overcoming critical technical challenges and steering the project towards its successful completion.
Provincial Minister for Irrigation and Planning & Development Jam Khan Shoro described the just completed scheme as one of the most significant achievements in Sindh’s recent history.
He briefed the CM about the rehabilitation works were being executed under the Project Management Office (PMO) of the SBIP with the financial assistance of World Bank and under the technical supervision of foreign consultants.
Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero said the successful completion of this critical phase reflected the dedication and professionalism of engineers, technical experts, consultants and project teams.
He informed the chief minister that the old stony roller gates with counterweight systems had been replaced with modern fixed-wheel gates, equipped with automated hoisting systems and operated through local control panels (LCPs).
Removal of the counterweight system has reduced the dead load on the barrage by approximately 4,500 tonnes, significantly enhancing structural performance, operational efficiency and ease of maintenance, he said.
He said that civil repair works in all 44 bays had been completed, while rehabilitation of 27 canal gates and associated embedded structures had also been undertaken.
According to Mr Khero, six-gauge wells have been constructed to facilitate accurate canal flow measurements, while sediment dredging upstream of the barrage has improved water flow conditions.
Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2026