LAHORE: A Pakistani delegation will travel to India on Sunday and hold talks on resolving the thorny water issues between the two countries under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) signed in 1960.
According to details, a three-member delegation led by Indus Water Commissioner Mehr Ali Shah will reach India via the Wagah Border for inspection of Indian hydroelectric projects’ construction in the Chenab basin, as mandated by the IWT.
It will be the first official engagement with India on the water issues since the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan took charge of the country.
The Pakistan delegation is set to inspect the Lower Kalnai and Pakal Dal projects being constructed over the Chenab River.
Syed Mehr Ali Shah said the Indian authorities have also hinted at allowing the inspection of other controversial projects during the six-day visit.
“Initially, India was not ready for the talks but we kept in touch with them under the IWT,” he said, adding that India agreed to the visit by the Pakistan delegation after Islamabad forcefully raised the issue.
He said that an Indian delegation led by its water commissioner P K Saxena visited Pakistan in August 2018 and it was agreed upon that all the issues between the two countries would be resolved under the treaty.
Earlier, Pakistan had raised serious concerns over the designs of 1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Kalnai projects on Chenab River and termed them as a violation of IWT.
Pakistan had argued that India could use these reservoirs to create artificial water shortage or flooding in Pakistan, demanding New Delhi to allow inspection of the projects.
