Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed that work begin soon on the 100-kilometre K-IV pipeline project for Karachi after a Chinese company expressed willingness to take it up, according to officials. He discussed the project during a visit to HBSZ Company in the Hanyang area of Wuhan, where he also inspected gates being prepared for the rehabilitation and modernisation of Sukkur Barrage.
Briefing on Sukkur Barrage rehabilitation
Officials said Murad Ali Shah was briefed on progress in the Sukkur Barrage rehabilitation project, which is being carried out with joint cooperation from China Road and Bridge Corporation and HBSZ.
According to the officials, 44 of the 54 gates that control river flow at Sukkur Barrage, along with their operating systems, have been replaced and made functional. Construction repair work at the related locations has also been completed.
The remaining 10 gates have been prepared and will be transported from China to Pakistan soon. Chinese officials said each of those gates weighs more than 50 tons.
HBSZ is also preparing 110 canal gates for Sukkur Barrage.
Work completed, and what remains
Officials said civil works and internal repairs on 27 canal gates were completed during the barrage closure in 2026, while six gauge wells to measure water level were built and handed over to the relevant authorities.
The briefing also said dredging and excavation have been completed across all areas of the barrage, but work in the tail channel is still pending and will be taken up in the next working season. The workshop building for gate fabrication has also been completed.
Murad Ali Shah said Sukkur Barrage is extremely important to him and called it Sindh’s economic lifeline. He said regular rehabilitation of the barrage after about 90 years has brought a significant improvement in water flow.
Project timeline and funding
| Item | Details from the source |
|---|---|
| Sukkur Barrage rehabilitation project start date | 24 February 2023 |
| Target completion date | 30 June 2027 |
| Financial support | World Bank, federal government, and Sindh government |
| Related ongoing work | Rehabilitation work at Guddu Barrage under the Sindh Barrages Improvement Project |
Investment invitation to Chinese companies
Murad Ali Shah also invited Chinese companies to invest in Sindh’s water resources, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors. He expressed a desire for cooperation in developing crop varieties that can withstand the effects of climate change.
