Indus treaty talks to begin tomorrow

Indus treaty talks to begin tomorrow

News:

1. India and Pakistan will hold two-day discussion on Indus Water Treaty in Lahore.

Important facts:

2. It will be first bilateral engagement since Imran Khan took office as Prime Minister.

3. Agenda for the upcoming meeting:

• The upcoming meeting is expected to discuss ways and means for the timely and smooth sharing of hydrological data on shared rivers.
• The last meeting of the Pakistan-India Permanent Indus Commission was held in New Delhi in March this year.
• During the last meeting, both sides had shared details of the water flow and the quantum of water being used under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.
• The two sides would now finalise the schedule of future meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission and visits of the teams of the Indus commissioners.

4. However, Pakistan is raising objections on the following grounds:

• The Pakistan side is raising objections to two water-storage and hydroelectric projects being built by India during the talks.
• The Pakistan would raise its concerns over the 1000- MW Pakal Dul and the 48-MW Lower Kalnai hydroelectric projects on the Chenab River.

5. About Indus Water Treaty:

• The 1960 Indus Water Treaty, brokered by the World Bank.
• The treaty administers how the waters of the Indus River and its tributaries that flow in both the countries will be utilized.