A major part of the ongoing upgrade of the colonial-era Sukkur barrage is set to be completed before this flood season of 2025. It includes replacements of the 18 gates of the barrage under a World Bank-funded loan. Such loans aim to ensure the modernisation of both Sukkur and Guddu barrages — both vital structures over the Indus River in Sindh under the Sindh Barrages Improvement Project (SBIP).

Out of the World Bank’s Rs74.6bn sponsored loan, both Sukkur and Guddu barrages would respectively receive Rs43.3bn and Rs31.3bn as per project related document. Physical progress of the Guddu barrage is at 63 per cent, while Sukkur’s is at 21pc. Slow progress at Sukkur is constrained by a delayed start compared with Guddu.

The Sukkur barrage is a marvel of Pakistan’s irrigation network and is the backbone of Sindh’s agrarian economy. So, its modernisation is crucial. It feeds lower and upper districts through its seven major canals, including the largest ones, Nara and Rohri, on the left bank. The right bank districts that are home to rice production are fed through the Rice and Dadu canals and the North Western Canal. The last one also supplies water to Balochistan as per its share under the Water Apportionment Accord 1991.

According to project officials, 16 gates (from 44 to 59) and two left pocket gates 62 and 63 will be replaced by May; the May-June period marks the beginning of flood season depending on upstream discharges in the system.

Work on the Sukkur barrage continues to improve irrigation and deter past water disasters ahead of the 2025 flood season

A visit to Sukkur barrage in early February indicated that a cofferdam — a huge........

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