New Delhi, Jan 28: India and Pakistan will hold talks on Indus Waters treaty and make an inspection tour of Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnal projects on Chenab River basin in next few days.
According to official sources here, the visit of the Pakistani delegation led by Pakistani Indus Water Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah is being felicitated by the Union Water Resources ministry.
“This is precisely parleys on Indus waters,” a source said.
The three-member delegation arrived here after crossing over through Wagah border and Amritsar in a flight, sources said here.
The delegation also comprising of Pakistani Joint Commissioner Usman Ghani and NESPAK Engineer Mehmood Hayat and Indian officials led by P K Saxena, Indus Commissioner in the Ministry of Water Resources, will fly to Jammu on Monday for ‘field inspection’.
Since 2013, there have been seven rounds of talks between India and Pakistan to resolve the thorny water disputes.
Sources said the delegation and Indian officials would return to India on January 31 for further talks on the matter.
In March, 2018, 114th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was held in New Delhi where the two sides exchanged their views on Lower Kulnai, Pakal Dal and Retal Hydroelectric projects.
The latest rounds of parleys will be the first official engagement with India on water issues since the new government headed by Imran Khan came to power in August last year.
An Indian delegation led by Mr Saxena had visited Pakistan on August 28, 2018.
Under the Treaty, both the countries and their respective Water Commissioners are mandated to meet at least once every year alternately in India and Pakistan.
