Boosting agrarian economy govt's top priority: CM

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that his government is committed to augmenting the agrarian economy through climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure that led to the replacement of Sukkur barrage gates following an incident on June 20, 2024.

He said this while presiding over a joint meeting of the Irrigation Department and Peoples Housing Project at the CM House on Wednesday. Minister Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro, Minister Home Zia Lanjar, CM Special Assistant Jabbar Khan, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif and others attended the meeting.

The CM said that the ongoing Rs24 billion Sukkur Barrage Gates and Structure Rehabilitation project is critical to protecting water resources and infrastructure. Launched in response to the collapse of a Sukkur Barrage gate on June 20, 2024, the project aims to replace all 66 gates of the historic structure, including canal gates, he said. Irrigation Minister Shoro briefed the meeting that the project is on track for completion in three years, with major civil works is in progress. The comprehensive rehabilitation plan includes constructing a large cofferdam. For the first time since the barrage's construction, the floors, piers, and built-in components will undergo inspection and repairs. The first phase focuses on replacing 16 gates, starting at the Left Bank Divide Wall.

Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood (SPHF) CEO Khalid Shaikh presented updates on housing construction for flood-affected families. He informed the CM that over one million bank accounts had been opened to facilitate direct fund transfers for housing reconstruction. So far, funds have been disbursed to 810,000 beneficiaries, leading to the completion of 475,000 houses, with 300,000 families already having moved into their new homes.

CM Shah reiterated his government's commitment to sustainable development, saying, "Through projects like the Sukkur Barrage Rehabilitation and the Peoples Housing initiative, we are creating a future-ready Sindh, equipped to address climate challenges while uplifting its people."