Finance Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, chaired an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss matters relating to Indus Waters Treaty, here today.
Minister for Water & Power, Khawaja Muhmmad Asif, Attorney General for Pakistan, Ashtar Ausaf Ali and representatives of relevant ministries and departments participated in the meeting. Pakistan’s Executive Director in the World Bank, Mr. Nasir Mahmood Khosa participated as a special invitee.
The Finance Minister stated that Pakistan views Indus Water Treaty as a useful and time-tested mechanism for water sharing and has abided by the Treaty since its inception. He said that it was in the interest of both the countries to continue to honour and implement the terms of the Treaty. In this spirit Pakistan would continue to fulfil its obligations under the IWT.
The Secretary Water & Power apprised the meeting of the recent developments with regard to the IWT. The contesting stances of Pakistan and India were deliberated in detail. Secretary Water & Power also informed the meeting of the plans for beefing up of Indus Water Commission.
Mr. Nasir Khosa briefed the meeting in detail on the role of World Bank and presented an update of the interaction with the WB management, following Finance Minister’s telephonic conversations with the President World Bank during the last week of December 2016. He said that as a guarantor of the Indus Water Treaty, the Bank’s management appears to be cognizant of its role.
The meeting appreciated the role played by the World Bank in relation to the Treaty and hoped that it would continue to play its constructive part in the future as well.
The Finance Minister directed that the Task Force headed by the Attorney General may continue its deliberations and make appropriate recommendation, among other things, on beefing up of the Indus Waters Commission.
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