Pakistan News And Discussion-9

[Naresh]

[center]<b><span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>WB expert on Baglihar to give verdict on Feb 12</span></b>[/center]

<b>ISLAMABAD – Professor Raymond Lafitte, the neutral expert appointed by the World Bank has conveyed to Pakistan and India that he would give his verdict on controversial Baglihar hydropower project on February 12, 2007 in Geneva.</b>

“The neutral expert is going to announce his decision on February 12 in the presence of the two parties, Pakistan and India,” confirmed Secretary Water and Power Ishfaq Mehmood while talking to TheNation here Sunday.

<b>He said no meeting or any consultation is scheduled before the final judgment of the neutral expert. “After pleading our case with all arguments, <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>we are committed to accept the judgment,” <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo--> the Secretary Water and Power indicated.</span></b>

“Both India and Pakistan have given final arguments in the last round of talks held in Washington in November 2006,” the secretary said.

In response to a question, he said that the Pakistani team comprising officials from Foreign Office, Indus Waters Commission and other departments presented their case forcefully and it expects a fair decision on part of the neutral expert. “The judgment will be binding for both parties,” he added.

The World Bank, being facilitator of Indus Waters Treaty 1960, had appointed the neutral expert after an agreement of both Pakistan and India. The Baglihar Dam is being constructed on Chenab River by India in violation of the Indus Water Treaty.

<b>According to estimates, <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Pakistan may suffer approximately 8,000 cusecs water a day in peak Rabi cropping season in case India constructed the dam in accordance with its plan,</span></b> which is a sheer violation of the 1960 treaty.

Pakistan’s majority province of Punjab would be the major loser if reduced water supply is received from Chenab River as Indian Baglihar Dam is being built in held Vally of Kashmir.

Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->