New Delhi/Islamabad: The 115th meeting of the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was held in Lahore in Pakistan and “both sides agreed” to undertake the Treaty mandated tours of both the Indus Commissioners in Indus basin.
“Both the countries agreed to undertake the Treaty mandated tours of both the Indus Commissioners in Indus basin on both sides,” an MEA statement said in Delhi.
The MEA statement said that the meeting held on August 29 and 30 was led by PK Saxena, the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters.
“As per the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, technical discussions were held on implementation of various hydroelectric projects under the provisions of Indus Waters Treaty including Pakal Dul (1000 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) in the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.
“Deliberations were also held on further strengthening the role of the Permanent Indus Commission for matters under the Treaty. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the PIC in India on mutually convenient dates,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, according to report in Pakistani newspaper ‘Dawn’ – “India agreed (on Thursday) to get sites of its two hydro power projects — 1,000 MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Kalnal — inspected by Pakistani experts by the end of next month”.
“The major breakthrough of the two-day talks held in Lahore is that India has agreed to get the project sites visited by our experts. Therefore, our team comprising experts will visit the sites in India by the end of next month,” Pakistan’s Water Resource Secretary Shamail Ahmad Khawaja told ‘Dawn’ newspaper.