SUKKUR:Despite being third largest city of Sindh, Sukkur has been deprived of its due status due to lack of political wisdom, poor city planning, corruption, lack of development interest and indifferent government policies. The city has even not been given basic facilities of life as it faces problems of water, air, and noise pollutions; traffic jams and over flowing gutters at several places.
The city, located on the western bank of mighty Indus River, the lifeline of Sindh’s people, needs attention from all relevant authorities to wake up from slumbering and adopt positive development approach to resolve the city’s problems on priority basis. The city needs sufficient annual budget for ensuring its beauty and making roads, streets and other infrastructure as per standard. There is need to make city planning in better way to widen the roads and end traffic jams which cause air and noisy pollution in congested areas.
The roads and streets are not being cleansed properly on daily basis as heaps of garbage could be found on many roads while many streets are littered with sewerage and garbage.
Neither Pakistan Peoples Party nor Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz governments could develop this city, which is a business hub of upper Sindh’s many cities, towns and villages. The present federal or provincial government has no any solid plan to develop it on modern lines. Question is why this mega city is being deprived of even its basic facilities of life. Why step motherly treatment is meted out with this city, which is beauty of Upper Sindh.
The city needs to be developed on modernlines as it is the centre of business in upper Sindh cities, town and villages. Sukkur is the third largest city in Sindh after Karachi and Hyderabad, and is 14th most populous city in Pakistan. New Sukkur was established during the British era alongside the village of Sukkur after which no significant development has taken places despite its population has risen significantly.
The narrow roads with traffic jams usually disturb routine life. Several roads and streets are in shambles. Overflowing gutter water could also be seen at many places. The cleanliness is also not upto the mark. Major share of funds allocated for cleanliness and uplift works are embezzled as it has been ususal practice of corrupt bureaucracy in Sindh.
The residents of Sukkur are badly affected by water shortage and contamination issues. The citizens have been facing water-borne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, gastroenteritis, typhoid, and dysentery. These diseases have become common in the city due to negligence of authorities.
Water supply, drainage and sanitation services were handed over to North Sindh Urban Services Corporation in January 2011 but there is no improvement despite heavy funds were allocated in this regard. Many localities near Islamia College, Sukkur, Shalimar Road, Jail Road, Minara Road and others are also facing acute shortage of drinking water for 15 many days.
The tourism places of Sukkur are Masoom Shah Jo Monaro, Sukkur Barrage, Lakhueen-jo-Daro, Lansdowne Bridge, Hindu Sadh Belo shrine, and Indus River beach. These sites have never been developed as per modern lines despite allocation of sufficient budgets. New Sukkur was built during British rule. The British rulers established
Lansdowne Bridge over the Indus River in the city that connects it with Rohri. They also established Sukkur Barrage on the Indus River. They also formed one of the largest irrigation systems in the world through Indus River.
On the eve of the partition of British India in 1947, Sukkur’s old town had population of 10,000, while New Sukkur had 80,000 population. After the independence of Pakistan, most of the city’s Hindu population migrated to India. Sindh Industrial Trading Estate in Sukkur was established in 1950. The Ayub Bridge was built in 1962.
Sukkur has a hot desert climate, characterised by very hot and hazy summers with dry and cool winters. It is known for its extremely hot summers, and was described as the hottest city in British India. Wind speed is low throughout the year, and sunshine is abundant. Summer is very hot as the temperature can reach 50 °C.
Sukkur had a large fertile and cultivable land area. During kharif, rice, bajra, cotton, tomatoes and peas are cultivated; whereas during rabi the main crops are wheat, barley, graham and melons. The city is famous, world over, for its dates.
The Sukkur IBA University is one of Pakistan’s most highly ranked business schools. The Sukkur IBA University (previously Sukkur Institute of Business Administration or Sukkur IBA) is a business school founded in 1994. The institute is ranked 3rd among the five independent business schools of Pakistan included in the Higher Education Commission Pakistan Business School Ranking-2013).
Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University is the public sector University exclusively for women. Established on 50 acre of land at the Rohri Bypass N-5 National Highway. The Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College is a constituent College of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University.