INDIA CALLS PAK EXPERTS TO VISIT HYDRO PROJECTS

Lahore, Sept. 1: India has invited Pakistani experts to visit the sites of its two hydropower projects on the Chenab river next month to address its concerns, but hinted at continuation of the work on them despite Islamabad’s objections, a senior Pakistani official has said.

After the conclusion of the two-day high-level bilateral talks on the Indus Waters Treaty, (IWT) the first official engagement between India and Pakistan since Imran Khan became Prime Minister on August 18, a Pakistani official, on the condition of anonymity, said India rejected Pakistan’s objections on the construction of the 1,000MW Pakal Dul dam and 48MW Lower Kalnai hydropower projects on the Chenab river. “India has hinted at continuation of the work on both the hydropower projects,” he said.

“The major breakthrough of the two-day talks held in Lahore is that India has agreed to get the projects’ sites visited by our experts. Therefore, our team comprising experts will visit the sites in India by the end of next month,” Pakistan’s Wat-er Resource Secretary Shamail Ahmad Khawaja told Dawn newspaper.

“During the visit, our experts will minutely examine the sites, construction in the light of the provisions of IWT and the objections raised by Pakistan,” he added.

The Indian Water Commiss-ion led by commissioner P.K. Saxena reviewed Pakistan’s objections minutely. It was mutually decided that both countries would separately prepare memorandums based on their point of view and possible solutions.