Pakistan seeks inspection of India's Indus river basin projects

India had allowed Pak officials to visit its side of the Indus river basin four years ago in Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai. Pakistan this time has requested for a general tour of various Indian projects on the Indus river basin.

Pakistan maintains that India's designs of Pakal Dul (1000 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) located in the Chenab basin in J&K violates the IWT agreement signed in 1960.

India, however, disagrees with Pakistan asserting that it is being done in line with the provisions of the water sharing pact.

Pakistan's latest move comes after a two-day meeting with India's Indus water commissioner P K Saxena, technical experts and a representative of the Ministry of External Affairs.

PTI reported that India offered the Pakistan delegation discussion on Ratle located in J&K which was being objected by Islamabad earlier. The Pakistan delegation declined the offer, saying the issue is already being discussed atthe secretary-level.

The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) is an established mechanism under the IWT, which mandates it to establish and maintain cooperative arrangements for the implementation of the water distribution pact and to promote cooperation between the two sides in the development of the Indus water systems.

The IWT covers the water distribution and sharing rights of six rivers - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

The treaty specifies that waters from the three western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - be reserved for Pakistan, while waters from eastern rivers - Ravi, Sutlej and Beas - are reserved for India.

The meeting of the PIC is held alternately in India and Pakistan at least once every year as mandated by the treaty.