Sukkur Water Supply: Murad Ali Shah Orders Action to Ensure Clean Drinking Water

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed relevant departments to address Sukkur’s longstanding water shortages and develop a sustainable supply system to meet the city’s growing needs.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the Sukkur Water Supply Project, the chief minister said residents of a city located along the River Indus should not face difficulties accessing drinking water.

The meeting was attended by Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Investment Qasim Naveed, Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Sheikh and senior government officials. Representatives of the Planning and Development Department, the PPP Unit and Sukkur Water and Sewerage Corporation also participated.

Murad Ali Shah said providing clean, safe and uninterrupted drinking water to every household was the government’s responsibility. He pledged that officials would make every effort to resolve the city’s water problems.

Officials told the meeting that Sukkur’s population had increased by approximately 68 per cent between 1998 and 2023. The chief minister said population growth and expanding residential areas required a modern water supply system designed to meet both current and future demand.

He directed departments to prepare plans based on reliable population and water-demand data. He also stressed that technical assessments must determine the appropriate treatment capacity and investment requirements before the project is finalised.

The briefing outlined a proposed water treatment system with a capacity of 40 million to 50 million gallons per day. Officials also discussed upgrading existing treatment facilities at Bukkur Island, Bandar Road, Exhibition Ground and Airport Road.

The chief minister said increasing water production alone would not solve the problem. Authorities must also improve pumping facilities and distribution networks to ensure water reaches households across the city.

The meeting was informed that the existing distribution system currently meets only 60 to 70 per cent of Sukkur’s water requirements. An ongoing development scheme worth Rs2.14 billion is expected to increase supply coverage to between 80 and 90 per cent.

Murad Ali Shah directed officials to improve treatment capacity and distribution infrastructure together. He called for a phased development strategy based on actual demand and instructed the authorities to resolve pending issues without delay.

He also stressed transparency, accountability and quality throughout the project, warning that delays would not be tolerated.

The meeting also discussed a proposal to develop Sukkur as a twin city with Yichang, a Chinese city situated along the Yangtze River. The chief minister said Sukkur could benefit from Yichang’s urban development experience and evolve into a modern city.

He said development must preserve Sukkur’s historical identity, natural beauty and geographical importance. Improvements to the Sukkur Barrage and urban infrastructure could help combine modern facilities with the city’s natural surroundings.

Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to improving the city’s water supply. He said Sukkur and New Sukkur were experiencing population growth, while expanding residential areas would place further pressure on available resources.

He said the Local Government Department, Sukkur mayor and Sukkur Water and Sewerage Corporation would coordinate closely to advance the project.

Murad Ali Shah said access to clean drinking water was directly linked to public health and children’s well-being. He stressed that the project should be treated as an essential public service initiative rather than merely a construction scheme.

The chief minister directed all relevant institutions to work together, remove administrative obstacles and ensure timely implementation.

“Our commitment is to ensure that clean and safe drinking water reaches every household in Sukkur,” he said.

He added that improving the daily lives of Sukkur’s residents remained the project’s central objective.