KARACHI: One of the gates at Sukkur Barrage, which was badly damaged in June 2024, has been officially replaced. Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro opened the gate in Sukkur and expressed hope that 28 more out of the 66 gates will be replaced by June 2026.
“We are pleased to have successfully replaced 16 gates so far,” said Minister Shoro. He mentioned that the remaining gates will be replaced in the next phase of the project, despite challenges such as tensions with India, protests against new canals on the Indus River, and security issues.
Replacing the old gates with mechanized ones will reduce the barrage’s weight by a total of 3,500 tonnes, Shoro explained. He also mentioned plans for a new barrage to replace Sukkur Barrage, with a study currently underway.
Earlier this year, on May 11, Minister Shoro had announced that 14 gates had already been replaced, with two more expected to be completed by June’s end.
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After one gate of the Sukkur Barrage collapsed in June 2024 and others were damaged, the rules required stopping the water flow from the Indus River through the barrage to carry out repairs.
This caused water shortages in many districts of Sindh for several months. Seven canals get water from the Sukkur Barrage, and the river then flows towards the Kotri Barrage in Jamshoro, which is the last point before the river reaches the sea.
The Sindh government plans to replace a total of 56 out of the barrage’s 66 gates over the next three years. Minister Shoro also addressed annual water shortages in April, stressing the need for consistent water supply according to Sindh’s share, especially during the monsoon season, which often leads to flash floods.
