Islamabad (Staff Report): Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) two-day 113th meeting between Pakistan and India is to begin today (Monday).
An Indian delegation comprises 10 members including India’s Indus Water Commissioner PK Saxena, MEA officials and technical experts arrived in Lahore yesterday to attend PIC meeting.
The agenda of the talks includes discussions on the design aspects of Pakal Dul, Lower Kalnai and Miyar hydroelectric plants, flood data supply by India and programme of tours of inspection and meetings by Pakistan and India to the sites of their interest in the Indus basin.
Tensions increased over the water dispute when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan.
Pakistan has raised objections to building of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric plants by India saying that it violates the provisions of the treaty.
World Bank had earlier asked both the countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements over the Indus Water Treaty 1960.
The treaty which was signed in 1960 by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan gives India control over the three eastern rivers of the Indus basin, the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej, while Pakistan has the three western rivers, the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum.
