Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered the Sukkur drinking water project, saying a city on the bank of the River Indus cannot be left thirsty.
“A city situated along the mighty River Indus cannot be left thirsty,” he said while chairing a high-level meeting at CM House in Karachi on Sunday to review the Sukkur Water Supply Project and its proposed public-private partnership structure.
The chief minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring a clean, safe and uninterrupted drinking water supply to the people of Sukkur. He said providing safe drinking water was a fundamental responsibility of the government and that no effort would be spared to address the longstanding water challenges faced by the people of the city, Dawn reported.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Investment Syed Qasim Naveed, Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Shaikh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Agha Wasif, Planning and Development Board Chairman Najam Shah, the secretaries of the local government and transport departments, and Sukkur Water and Sewerage Corporation chief executive Jatin Kumar.
Why the Sukkur drinking water project is needed
The chief minister noted that Sukkur’s population had grown by about 68 per cent between 1998 and 2023, making it essential to build a modern water supply system that can meet the city’s present and future needs, he said.
He directed the departments concerned to plan the project in line with population growth, urban expansion and rising water demand, so that every household has access to safe drinking water.
The project envisages a water treatment capacity of 40 to 50 million gallons per day, and the chief minister directed the authorities to ensure that the proposed capacity and investment were backed by a realistic demand assessment, sound technical planning and operational readiness.
The project envisages improvements to existing water treatment infrastructure, including facilities at Bukkur Island, Bunder Road, Numaish Gah and Airport Road, alongside improvements in pumping and water distribution.
The meeting was told that the existing distribution network currently served an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of demand, while an ongoing Annual Development Programme scheme worth Rs2.14 billion was expected to increase the coverage to 80 to 90 per cent.
The chief minister directed the local government department, the Sukkur mayor and the water corporation head to ensure that improvements in treatment capacity and the distribution network moved forward together. He observed that increasing water availability alone would not resolve the problem unless treated water reached households across all parts of the city.
A sister-city idea on the Yangtze
Sharing his broader vision for Sukkur’s development, the chief minister said the city is being considered for declaration as the sister-city of China’s Yichang, which stands on the Yangtze River. He said the proposed relationship would provide an opportunity to learn from Yichang’s development experience and help shape Sukkur into a modern, well-planned urban centre.
“Sukkur has a unique identity because of its location along the River Indus. As we move towards a sister-city relationship with a Chinese city, Yichang on the Yangtze River, we must develop Sukkur in a way that reflects its own character and potential. The improvement of Sukkur Barrage, together with the city’s development, can create a remarkable combination of modern urban facilities and the natural beauty and rural character of the surrounding landscape,” he said.
He directed the local government department, the public-private partnership unit and the water corporation to move forward with a practical and sustainable project structure, ensuring that public interest, consumer protection and quality service delivery remained the foremost considerations.
He also directed the officials concerned to resolve outstanding matters, maintain strict implementation timelines and ensure transparency, accountability and quality at every stage of the project.
The Sukkur project fits a wider pattern of water investment in the province. Sindh has scrapped its municipal caretaker system as part of local government reform, and a relief package for farmers in Tharparkar has been announced for the drought-hit district. The Indus itself remains the centre of the province’s water life, and a resort for the Indus blind dolphin has opened at Taunsa. Pakistan needs 18 billion dollars of investment in water security, and Sukkur’s 40 to 50 million gallons a day is one piece of that larger need.
Frequently asked questions
What has the Sindh chief minister ordered for Sukkur?
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered a major drinking water project for Sukkur, with a treatment capacity of 40 to 50 million gallons per day, to be developed under a public-private partnership structure.
Why does Sukkur need a new water project?
Sukkur’s population grew by about 68 per cent between 1998 and 2023, and the existing distribution network serves only an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of demand.
How much will coverage improve?
An ongoing Annual Development Programme scheme worth Rs2.14 billion is expected to raise coverage from 60 to 70 per cent to 80 to 90 per cent of demand.
Which areas will the project cover?
The project envisages improvements to water treatment facilities at Bukkur Island, Bunder Road, Numaish Gah and Airport Road, along with improvements in pumping and water distribution.
What is the Yichang sister-city proposal?
Sukkur is being considered for declaration as the sister-city of China’s Yichang, which stands on the Yangtze River, so the city can learn from Yichang’s development experience.
