|
A team of eleven Indians is in Lahore, Pakistan to be present at the 100th meeting of the Pakistan and India Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). The meeting began on Saturday, May 31, 2008 to review progress over the water issues between the two countries. The PIC is the permanent commission between the two nations that was established after the 1960 Water Treaty between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank.
At least one annual review meeting of the Permanent Indus commission is obligatory but on various occasions, the two sides have met more than once in a year which has led to making the present four-day meeting the 100th. Officials from both the sides before initiating the meeting cut a huge cake to celebrate the 100th meeting.
During the four day meeting the issue of the controversial Baglihar hydropower-cum-water storage project, which is being built on the Chenab River flowing from Kashmir will also be discussed. Pakistan has raised serious concerns over the design of the dam and had sought modifications. Pakistan in 2006 had sought mediation by the World Bank under the treaty. The World Bank had then appointed Raymond Lafitte as the neutral expert to review the project and look into Pakistan's concerns. In his February 2007, report, Lafitte pointed out some anomalies, but said India could go ahead with the construction of the project.
