Pakistan Indus Water Commission delegation leaves for India
LAHORE (92 News) – A three member delegation of Pakistan Indus Water Commission left for India on his 119th visit via Wagah border on Sunday.
The delegation is led by Pakistani Indus Water Commissioner, Syed Mehr Ali Shah, while other members are Joint Commissioner Usman Ghani and NESPAK Engineer Mehmood Hayat. The Pakistani delegation is visiting to inspect the dams’ construction sites on River Chenab.
They will hold talks with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi and return Lahore on 1st of next month.
Before departure, Pakistan Indus Water Commissioner said Indus Water Treaty does not prohibit construction of any dam, however objections can be raised over dam designs.
To a question, he said the two sides will exchange documents during the visit. He said India has allowed Pakistani delegation to inspect the dams’ sites after a gap of over four years.
It is worth mentioning here that Indus Waters Treaty, treaty, signed on September 19, 1960, between India and Pakistan and brokered by the World Bank. The treaty fixed and delimited the rights and obligations of both countries concerning the use of the waters of the Indus River system.
Earlier August 30, Pakistani and Indian water commissioners discussed on two controversial hydropower projects being built by New Delhi in occupied Kashmir in Lahore.
Pakistani delegation at the talks led by Indus Water Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah while his Indian counterpart P K Saxena headed nine-member delegation of his country. Pakistan has serious reservations over violations of Indus Water Treaty by India while building 1000 MW Pakal Dul and 48-MW Lower Kalnai hydroelectric projects.
Talks took place at the Lahore headquarters of the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK). Talks held between the Pak-India delegations but no positive outcome came into surface.
Both the sides will share water release data besides Pakistani side will raise its objections to two hydropower projects being constructed by Indian-held Jammu Kashmir.
According to reports, India planned to build Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai on two different tributaries of Rive Chenab. India had already given assurance to Pakistan that it will address all concerns on designs of these projects.
