Seminar focused on the Sukkur Barrage was held at a local hotel, organized under the Sindh Barrage Improvement Project (SBIP). The event, supported by the World Bank, featured a hydraulic model study workshop aimed at modernizing and rehabilitating the Sukkur Barrage.
Sindh Minister for Irrigation, Jam Khan Shoro, addressed international and national experts during the workshop, proposing an increase in the barrage’s water capacity from 0.9 million cubic feet per second to 1.5 million cubic feet per second.
Shoro highlighted that the original design capacity of the barrage was 1.5 million cubic feet per second, but it has been reduced to 0.9 million cubic feet per second over time. Shoro emphasized the crucial role of the Sukkur Barrage in Sindh’s agriculture and economy, noting that the barrage’s efficient operation is vital for managing water resources and supporting the region’s agricultural output. Hydrology expert Muhammad Ibrahim Sumho discussed the significance of the Sukkur Barrage, pointing out that Sindh’s rainfall ranges from 100 to 200 millimeters, while evaporation rates range from 1,000 to 2,000 millimeters. He stressed that the province’s agricultural productivity heavily relies on the river Indus and the Sukkur Barrage.
Additional Secretary of Irrigation Aslam Ansari and other attendees also participated in the seminar, reflecting the collaborative effort to address and enhance the functionality of the Sukkur Barrage.
