Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah officially inaugurated a significant phase of the Rs23.43 billion ($84.2 million) rehabilitation and modernisation project at the Sukkur Barrage on Sunday. This initiative is crucial for safeguarding the agricultural foundation of millions of farming families and enhancing Pakistan’s national food security.
The extensive refurbishment of the 94-year-old Sukkur Barrage is part of the World Bank-backed Sindh Barrages Improvement Project (SBIP). The project focuses on reducing flood risks caused by climate change, stabilising the Indus Basin irrigation system, and improving water distribution across 3.1 million hectares of farmland.
With a total investment of Rs23.436 billion ($84.2 million), the project has replaced 44 high-tonnage gates—exceeding the initial target of 32. Each gate weighs approximately 50 metric tons. This upgrade supports seven major canals and is expected to benefit over 600,000 farming households. It also integrates with a broader regional network, including the Guddu Barrage, where a separate Rs9.58 billion phase has already been completed.
Addressing provincial ministers, technical experts, and diplomatic observers at the inauguration, Murad Ali Shah emphasized the project’s importance as a protective measure against shifting weather patterns. He highlighted that the Sukkur Barrage is more than just a physical structure; it is a vital economic lifeline for Sindh’s agrarian community. Shah noted that more than 60 percent of Sindh’s population lives in rural areas and relies heavily on the dependable water supply from this irrigation system.
This marks the first major rehabilitation of the barrage’s underwater floors and core masonry since its construction during the colonial era in 1932. Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero and Minister Jam Khan Shoro informed officials that the project surpassed expectations by fabricating and installing 44 gates instead of the planned 32. The mechanical system was modernized from an outdated stoney-roller mechanism to a fixed-wheel design, eliminating previous counterweight issues.
To address global supply chain challenges and reduce expenses, the provincial government set up two specialized manufacturing workshops in Sukkur. These facilities employed 10 Chinese engineering experts alongside 51 senior Pakistani technicians.
The broader SBIP framework also includes the successful completion of upgrades at the Guddu Barrage, which involved replacing all 56 main barrage gates and 25 canal head regulator gates at a cost of Rs9.585 billion. This work stabilizes the upper-tier water delivery systems in the province.
Beyond mechanical enhancements, engineers carried out critical civil repairs across all 44 structural bays and delivered six out of seven essential gauge wells, with final calibrations ongoing at the Nara Canal. The upgraded infrastructure ensures the barrage can safely manage historically high and unseasonal river surges along the Indus River while maintaining uninterrupted water flow to its seven canals.
Environmental and social safeguards were rigorously implemented. A dedicated 45-member environmental compliance team conducted 580 occupational health and safety training sessions for construction workers. Additionally, the provincial irrigation department held formal consultations with over 1,200 local stakeholders residing along the riverbanks to minimize displacement and economic disruption.
During the ceremony, Chief Minister Shah directed the Sindh Irrigation Department to maintain progress and complete the final phases of the modernisation project by June 2027. He also commended Pritam Das, the former SBIP Project Director, for his technical leadership in overcoming complex underwater engineering challenges in the project’s early stages.
