Murad announces Bhutto Scholarship Programme at Oxford University

KARACHI/SUKKUR: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s day-long visit to Sukkur resulted in several developments, primarily focusing on education, infrastructure development, community safety, and strengthening the irrigation system to boost the agro-economy.

The visit included important inaugurations at the Aror University and IBA Sukkur, the announcement of significant scholarship programmes, and a strong commitment to improving law and order.

Shah inaugurated several state-of-the-art facilities at the Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design & Heritage, including boys’ and girls’ hostels, an auditorium, a vibrant art gallery and a wax museum. “These additions will enrich the learning environment and foster creativity among students,” he said.

He also announced the Bhutto Scholarship Programme at the Oxford University, under which six scholarships would be provided every year to deserving students from Sindh: three for young men in honour of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and three for young women in honour of Benazir Bhutto.

“This initiative will open doors for higher education, and encourage the province’s youth to excel on a global stage,” he said. He also surprised an AI student with the announcement of a new laptop, which he personally funded through the Sukkur deputy commissioner.

During his visit to IBA Sukkur, he recognised the institute as the “crown jewel” of Sindh’s education sector, and praised its role in shaping future leaders.

Speaking at the Pakistan Literature Festival at IBA Sukkur, he celebrated the province’s remarkable growth in higher education, noting the establishment of 20 new public universities over the past 12 years. He also emphasised his government’s commitment to protecting the province’s rights, and ensuring public welfare. He highlighted the importance of focusing on various roles to drive overall progress, citing the Uraan Pakistan programme as a reflection of Benazir’s vision for a prosperous future.

He also inaugurated the modernised B-Section police station in Sukkur. He ordered prioritising community policing, digitising complaint registration processes, and taking decisive action against crime, drug trafficking, and violations against vulnerable populations. “I won’t tolerate any high-handedness against women, children and minorities.”

He also inspected the crucial repair work at the Sukkur Barrage, focusing on the replacement of 18 gates, and the lining of the Nara Canal. He stressed the importance of completing the work on time, directing the irrigation department to finalise the barrage repairs by June 30.

During his visit to the under-construction Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge (Kandhkot side), he gave the works & services department three months to complete the piling work, saying that police and Rangers would provide the necessary security to ensure the project’s completion by next year.

The department is constructing a bridge over the Indus River to provide a direct road link between Ghotki and Kandhkot. It is expected to significantly improve connectivity, and reduce travel distance by approximately 120km.

Shah highlighted that Ghotki is becoming an emerging industrial hub, while Kandhkot is located along the proposed Pak-China Economic Corridor. Both regions are home to some of the country’s largest oil and gas fields, power projects and fertilizer plants.

“The new bridge will reduce the current travel distance from 151km to around 30km, boosting economic activity and regional trade,” he said, emphasising the need to complete the project as soon as possible.

To ensure the project’s safety, security forces have been deployed: 40 Rangers officials are stationed at the site, along with two pickets and three patrol vehicles on rotation, while 50 policemen are deployed at four pickets along the project’s route, equipped with a police vehicle and an armoured personnel carrier.

Shah ordered the completion of three barracks, with one at KM 20+800 nearly finished and partially occupied. He also ordered the completion of 21 police pickets, six of which have been completed and handed over to the district police.

However, pickets seven and eight could not be constructed due to the Kariro Pattan offshoot of the Indus River. Shah instructed the police department to determine alternative locations for these pickets.

He was informed that although the riverbed land is officially classified as state-owned, the locals have encroached upon it for agricultural use and are refusing to vacate the construction corridor, causing delays in the bridge’s construction. Shah directed the revenue and police departments to vacate the land to resume work.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also inaugurated the Pakistan Literature Festival 2025 Sukkur Chapter at the Sukkur IBA University. The PLF is being organized by the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi. In his speech, he congratulated the ACP on organizing such a grand festival in Sukkur. He mentioned that similar festivals have already been held in Quetta, Kashmir, and Lahore, emphasizing that promoting art and culture is a key responsibility that Ahmed Shah has taken on.