A five-member delegation, led by Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Muhammad Mehr Ali Shah, has left for India for talks on the water disputes between the two countries, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

The Pakistani delegation, comprising the representatives of meteorological department, irrigation department, Nespak and foreign ministry, has left for India through Wagah border crossing.

“The two-day talks will be held in New Delhi from tomorrow. This is the 118th meeting on the water issue between the two countries,” Syed Mehr Ali Shah said.

“There will be talks on the sharing of flood forecast data while the PCIW (Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Water) annual report will also be discussed during the negotiations,” he added.

Shah also said that the Pakistani delegation would not visit the under-construction Kiru, Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai dams. “However, these and other projects will come under discussion,” he added.

In March, India and Pakistan had reiterated their commitment to implement the Indus Waters Treaty in its true spirit and expressed the hope that the next meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission would be held at an early date in India.

Under the relevant provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, the meeting takes place alternatively in Pakistan and India annually.

Shah said that Pakistan objected to India’s three major projects on Chenab River including Kiru and Pakal Dul dams.

“Work on Kiru hydropower plant has been started. On our objection, India has said that it will submit a report on that,” he added and stated that the Pakistani delegation was going for a meeting only and there would be separate visits for inspection.

He said that there would also be talks about early warning of floods in rivers coming from India.

 

Reporter: Saeed Ahmad Saeed