ISLAMABAD – Islamabad and New Delhi hold talks in Islamabad from today(Tuesday) as an Indian delegation arrived via the Wagah border to discussbilateral water issues.
Reports in local media said the 117th session of the Permanent IndusCommission (PIC) begins in the country’s federal capital.
The Indian delegation will be led by Indian Commissioner for Indus WaterPradeep Saxena while Indus Water Commissioner Commissioner Mehr Ali Shahwill represent Pakistan.
Both sides meet every year to discuss cooperation on the Indus River systemunder Article VIII of the Indus Water Treaty which was signed in 1960 withthe intervention of the World Bank.
A statement issued by government officials cited “During the meeting,Pakistan’s observations on various Indian New Run-of-River Hydro-ElectricPlants will be discussed and matter relating to sharing of floodinformation by the Indian side would also be reviewed”.
Read Top Stories
Pakistan will also raise objections to Indian hydroelectric projects namelyPakal Dul (1,000 MW), Lower Kalnai (48 MW), and Kiru (624 MW) in the Chenabbasin in Jammu and Kashmir and a few small hydroelectric projects in Ladakh.
Islamabad has opposed some other Indian projects saying they violate theIndus water treaty. New Delhi has been given the right to generatehydroelectricity through run-of-the-river projects on the western riverswhile Pakistan has the right to raise objections to designs of Indianprojects on the western rivers.
Under the IWT, Pakistan has been given control over the three westernrivers – the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab while the waters of the easternrivers – the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi – have been allocated to India.
