Sukkur

Sukkur Barrage

Sukkur Barrage was build during the ruling time of British. It was build in 9 years - from 1923 to 1932. It is located on the Indus River - the largest river of Pakistan. The 66 gate barrage is made up of yellow stones and iron. It was made solely for the purpose of improving the irrigation system. Also there is a museum known as Sukkur Barrage Museum which has barrage model and very interesting things in it. The museum also provides the information regarding the barrage. Sukkur Barrage is the best attraction place for tourists.

Sukkur, located on the Indus River, is an important commercial and industrial city of Sind province. Sukkur is famous for its Sukkur Barrage, a 60 gates barrage, made of yellow stone and steel, across the Indus, which controls one of the largest irrigation systems in the world. It was built from 1923 to 1932, following almost a century of deliberations by the Government of Bombay Presidency. The Barrage was formally inaugurated in January 1932 and was the largest irrigation project ever undertaken at that time. It brought nearly 7 million acres under cultivation. Some of the project's individual canals were even larger than that of the Suez Canal. It paved the way for an economically depressed Sind to become a full province, with its capital in the rapidly growing port city of Karachi. Fifteen years later, Karachi became the capital of a new country, Pakistan. The clipping from the the Daily Gazette (above left), published from Karachi, that later became The Sind Gazette, shows the Viceroy Lord Willington who inaugurated the canal.

Lately, the barrage had developed serious cracks and was in the danger of giving away itself to the Indus forever. The government therefore decided to engage FWO (Frontier Works Organization), the premium construction enterprise of Pakistan Army Engineers, which has many mega projects to its credit including the Karakoram Highway (KKH) - the 8th wonder of the world, to restore the barrage. Army Engineers and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) completed the project, using Rs 125 million less than the estimated cost. In the current flood season, over 500,000 cusecs of water have passed through the barrage’s gates without affecting the provincial irrigation system. Sheet piles weighing 100 tonnes were imported from Belgium and lined up across the bays in the base of the barrage to replace the old sheet piles that had been placed during the British period. Experts believe that rehabilitation of the barrage has enhanced its affectivity for another 60 to 70 years. No foreign technology was borrowed in the rehabilitation work and FWO used local and indigenous resources during the project.

As for Sukkur city, it is one of the thriving cities of the Sind province, located on the western bank of river Indus. It is an old city and had been an important commercial and industrial city and a centre for trade with Afghanistan. The modern Sukkur was built by the British general Sir Charles Napier in the 1840s. Sukkur has cotton and silk textile industries beside producing cement, and lime and cigarettes. Being located on the river, boat building is the thriving business since most of the dwellers rely on their cache of fish which provide them handsome earnings. Besides handloom weaving are also important.

Today the Sukkur Barrage, while critical to the lower Indus basin economy, is also responsible for enormous water logging and salinity problems. These are among the reasons why the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro fifty miles to the south is threatened and cannot be further excavated.

The minaret of Nizam-ud-Din Mir Muhammad Masum Shah is the most conspicuous structure of Sukkur town, dating back to 1607. Masum Shah was the governor of Mughal Emperor Akbar who appointed him as the Nawab of Sukkur. The minaret was built in about 1607 the monument, built of red brick, is more or less conical in shape, slightly off the perpendicular and surmounted by a dome to which an internal stone staircase gives an access. It is about 26 meters in circumference and has 84 steps to the top. It is about 31 meters feet in height and can be seen from miles away. This minaret is believed to have been used as a watch tower. Family and offspring of Nizam-ud-Din Mir Muhammad Masum Shah still lives in Old Sukkur where He lives during ruling time. The minaret and its surroundings are still under power of Masumi Family even though Government of Pakistan has taken the management control of this historical site.

Masoom Shah Jo Munaro, (Munaro in Sindhi Language for Minaret) which is situated in the middle of the city. Minaret was built by Historian and knight Mr. Masoom Shah in 18th century. It is believed that the stones used in the stairs were soiled in real butter Ghee for 84 days. While moving upward there are few small stoppages with windows in the walls for brightness and air. At the top there is a lovely balcony from where a spectacular view of the River Indus and its two bridges and almost entire city can be seen.

Sukkur Barrage on the Indus River was opened in January 1932, following almost a century of deliberations by the Government of Bombay Presidency. The largest irrigation project ever undertaken, it brought nearly 7 million acres under cultivation. Some of the project's individual canals were larger than the Suez Canal. It paved the way for an economically depressed Sindh to become a full province, with its capital in the rapidly growing port city of Karachi. Fifteen years later, Karachi became the capital of a new country, Pakistan.

Near Rohri Railway station towards Sukkar there is a shrine that claims to hold a holy Hair Mubarak of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). It is believed locally that there are thousands of sufis and saints in Rohri and its suburbs. Ruins of 'city of Aror' which is located only 9 Kilometers from Sukkur is the site where Mohammed bin Qasim built a famous Mosque in 726 AD which is present even today and an Imam still performs prayer there . If you possess an archaeologist mind you may hike to the citadel and probably can find some coins of that period of 8th to 13 Century. This shows how ignored is the historical place where government claims Sindh as bab-ul-islam (door to Islam in sub-continent) yet the first ever built mosque on the land of South East Asia is not preserved.

Sukkur barrage there is a Hindu / Sikh temple known as Sadh belo. This is situated in the middle of the river Indus. At a short distance from Sukkur, there are few Hindus temples of Kali Mata & Durga. It is believed that Kali when travelling to Baluchistan stayed there. Many Hindus come for a pilgrmage (Teerat) and go through a dark cave to perform their ritual. The people here are very friendly and it can be really interesting to see how rituals are performed. On the way to the caves you can also stop at Ganjo Takar a small temple on top of a gigantic if you want to test your rock climbing skills this is perfect place.

The Sukkur Barrage on the Indus River was opened in January 1932, following almost a century of deliberations by the Government of Bombay Presidency. The largest irrigation project ever undertaken, it brought nearly 7 million acres under cultivation. Some of the project's individual canals were larger than the Suez Canal. It paved the way for an economically depressed Sindh to become a full province, with its capital in the rapidly growing port city of Karachi. Fifteen years later, Karachi became the capital of a new country, Pakistan.

Sukkur Barrage, while critical to the lower Indus basin economy, is also responsible for enormous waterlogging and salinity problems.