Written by: Sirat Gohar Daudpoto
Posted on: December 20, 2023 | 
| 中文
Saint Mary’s Church in Sukkur, Sindh
Built along the banks of the Indus River in southern Pakistan, Sukkur is the third largest city of Sindh and the largest in northern Sindh. Due to its location on the main route connecting Sindh with Punjab and Balochistan provinces, the city has got a very important strategic position among the cities of the Sindh province. It is a beautiful city, a commercial center and an ideal destination for travelers, offering diverse experiences. People from different walks of life pay visits to the city for different purposes, making Sukkur a multi-tourism destination.
Sukkur’s urban landscape is dotted with historical places and monumental structures of different time periods, from ancient to recent. And together, these historically and culturally significant places form the heritage of the city, which comprises a variety of buildings, monuments, structures and sacred spaces. City’s built legacy has gained popularity over the years, and the visitors who come to Sukkur for different purposes, are aware of almost all the prominent structures and popular places in the city. It is because these building and places are conspicuous, standing distinct in the urban landscape, and located in and near, the oft frequented places of the city.
This piece of writing contains information about the four buildings and structures of the British era located in Sukkur City. These colonial structures are amongst the most famous spaces of the city. Of these four colonial monuments, the market (bazar) and two churches, date to the late 19th century, whereas the barrage was built in the first half of the 20th century.
The Lloyd Barrage, also called Sukkur Barrage, is an arched structure made of limestone that was constructed over the Indus River on January 13, 1932, during the reign of King George V, then the Emperor of British India. Construction of the barrage was Lieutenant J.G. Fife’s idea, but it was constructed sixty years later, in April 1923, by Sir Arnold Albert Musto with the support of Lord Willingdon, the Viceroy and Governor-General of British India between 1931-1936, and Sir George Ambrose Lloyd, the Governor of Bombay in British India between 1928-1922. Named after Sir George Ambrose Lloyd, the barrage has sixty-six arched spans, each weighing 50 tons and measuring 18 meters in width.
Sir George Ambrose Llyod
Along with the barrage, a museum was also constructed on the eastern side of the Indus River, displaying the models of the barrage and the machinery and material used in the construction of the barrage. A library was also built in the building of Lloyd Barrage Museum. By constructing the Lloyd Barrage on the Indus River, the British Raj developed a great irrigation system, the largest in Pakistan, irrigating eight million acres of cultivable land of Sindh province through seven canals originating from it. The Lloyd Barrage played an important role in the socio-political economy of the British Raj.
Lloyd Barrage Museum
The British period Bazar located near the Clock Tower in the Sukkur city has a central position in the urban landscape of Sukkur. It was named after the British Empress Victoria. A number of buildings, which also included markets, were built to commemorate Queen Victoria during the Victorian Era (1820 – 1914) around the world, and the Victoria Market of Sukkur was built in the same period.
Vitoria Market, Sukkur
To honor the British Queen Victoria, the Victoria Market was established in Sukkur city in 1883. Built of backed bricks and stones, and decorated with wooden and iron objects, the building of the market is cruciform in shape, and has a number of platforms and cells used as shops for selling daily-use items.
Established in 1881 in central Sukkur near the Parsi Compound, Saint Saviour’s Church is an Anglican church owned by Protestants. The church is built of bricks, stones and wood with a little use of metallic plates in the roof and has painted glass decoration.
Saint Saviour’s Church, Sukkur
Saint Mary’s Church, also the Roman Catholic Church, was built in 1885 besides the Eidgah, near Pir Illahi Bux Literacy Tower at the cost of 5000 rupees, money that was collected through donations. Saint Mary’s School was constructed in the compound of the Church in 1897, and in 1931 a sculpture of Christ was also installed.
Sculpture of Christ in Saint Mary’s Church in Sukkur
Sukkur’s rich colonial structures have only added to the charms of this city of Sindh.
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