pakistan geographical review 1954 - University of the Punjab

southward for nearly fifty miles on the right bank of the river Indus. The
island of Bukkur in the middle of the river between Sukkur and Rohri is a link
in that chain.
Physiographic Aspect:
Geologically, the Sukkur-Rohri area falls within the upper part of Sind
consisting of the flat alluvial plain but with a few isolated ridges viz., the Sukkur
and Rohri hills. The foundation of Sukkur itself has been laid in an area,
which consists of a broad alluvial plain on both sides of the river, interrupted
near Sukkur and Rohri by the limestone ridges. The island of Bukkur, lying
in the middle of the river between these two towns, is composed of the Kirt har
series, a white and yellowish Nummulitic lime-stone. The foundation of the
town has, thus, been laid ill a rocky area, where there is still much room for
further extension in the north and north west respectively.
The hills of Sukkur and Rohri rise about 150 feet from the plain in the
immediate neighbourhood of the Indus. This rocky pocket of the Sukkur-Rohri
hills is intersected by the main stream, which has cut its way through these
lime-stone rocks in between the towns of Sukkur and Rohri instead of cutting
its course through the alluvial plain to the east or west of these hills. The
central portion of the plain in upper Sind, in which the Sukkur-Rohri area lies
and which is traversed by the present course of the river Indus, is higher than
the areas lying eastwards and westwards. Beyond this rocky pocket, a belt of
marsh extends from north to south at some distence from each bank of the river.
The river on Sukkur and Rohri point is actually flowing on an elevated ridge
formed by itself and the river bank is only fixed at Sukkur-Rohri in the North
of Sind.
The siting of these towns in the past and for the construction of Barrage
have obviously been selected for their topographical stability. Physiographically,
the Sukkur area as a whole may, thus, be described as a fiat table land,
chiefly overlain with alluvium, with a few isolated ridges standing in this plain
otherwise quite level. Due to this outstanding topographical feature this area
presents better prospects for establishing a stable town in the upper Sind along
the banks of the river Indus where there is always a danger of devastating
floods and where river 'bunds' are occasionally breached during the rainy season.
In general, the climatic conditions of Sukkur and its neighbourhood are
similar to those which prevail throughout the upper Sind. The air is generally
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