A major consultative workshop was held in Sukkur on Monday to define the future vision and strategic reforms for the Sukkur Water and Sewerage Corporation (SWSC). The event brought together key stakeholders to tackle the city's long-standing water and sewage challenges head-on.
Decades of Instability and a New Beginning
Addressing the gathering, Sindh government spokesperson and Mayor of Sukkur, Barrister Arslan Islam Shaikh, outlined a history of institutional neglect. He revealed that over the past 17 years, Sukkur's water and sewage system was shuffled between four different authorities: starting with NASASC, then the municipal corporation, followed by the Department of Public Health, and finally handed back to the Sukkur Municipal Corporation in 2022.
This constant transition crippled the system. Mayor Shaikh highlighted that during this period, Sukkur's population grew by over 200,000, but the workforce plummeted from 1,268 employees to just 130, as staff left for various reasons.
Ambitious Plans and Critical Investments
The mayor announced concrete steps for revival. The Sindh government has approved a crucial three-year grant for SWSC, and a meeting with the Chief Minister is expected soon to explore Public Private Partnership (PPP) investments.
Significant infrastructure progress is already underway:
- 30 acres of land have been purchased for a dedicated wastewater treatment plant.
- Work on the sewage system is 90% complete after 17 months of effort, with the remaining 10% slated for completion within the next 45 days.
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a summary for installing new water lines.
Mayor Shaikh starkly outlined the supply gap: the city currently needs 22 million gallons per day (MGD) but can only produce 7.5 MGD. Demand is projected to soar to 41 MGD over the next two decades, necessitating urgent, phased action.
Data, Challenges, and a Collaborative Path Forward
UNICEF representatives at the workshop provided critical data: Sukkur has a population of 650,000, growing at 2.51% annually across 32 union councils. They confirmed SWSC's new status as an autonomous body under the Sukkur Water and Sewerage Corporation Act, 2023.
The scale of the problem was further detailed: the 214 km water network has only 26,988 registered connections, with over 82,000 connections being illegal. For years, untreated water from 45 disposal points flowed directly into the Indus River, contributing to public health issues like diarrhea and stunted growth in children.
Workshop participants formed groups to brainstorm solutions on institutional stability, financial sustainability, public awareness, and climate resilience. Concluding the session, Sukkur Municipal Commissioner Pir Waheed Bukhsh thanked all contributors, stating their input was vital for making SWSC's transformation practical, effective, and sustainable.
Mayor Arslan Islam Shaikh expressed a firm resolve to execute all projects systematically, aiming to make Sukkur's water utility a model for the entire province of Sindh to follow.
