Indus River in Kharmang District, Pakistan, Photo Shanawaz Zafar/Wikimedia Commons
Islamabad has asked the World Bank – the arbiter of Indus Water Treaty – to expedite resolution water-sharing disputes with India, which is constructing dams on rivers flowing into Pakistani territory through Kashmir.
During a meeting with the Bank President Dr Jim Yong Kim in Washington, Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar acknowledged the role the financial institution is playing towards addressing the disputes.
The resolution to water issues would “lead to water security in the South Asian region,” Dar said, according to the Pakistani embassy.
After World Bank intervention, India held talks with Pakistan in Islamabad last month but New Delhi pulled out of follow-up talks, which were scheduled to take place in D.C. on the margins of the IMF-World Bank Spring meetings.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar with WB President Jim Yong Kim
Photo: Pakistan Embassy
April 24, 2017
Islamabad has voiced serious concern over diversion of water due to a number of under construction hydel projects in Indian-controlled Kashmir on the tributaries of rivers Chenab, Jhelum and Indus – that according to the Indus Treaty are apportioned to Pakistan.
But water is not the only issue keeping Pakistan-India relations hostage. Indian atrocities against protesting Kashmiri youth have seriously undermined peace prospects with social media images exposing India police and army brutality.
In Washington, Dar told the WB Chief that Pakistan’s economy was set to grow by over 5 percent in the fiscal year ending in June 2017. The focus, he said, was now on making the growth inclusive and sustainable. For the purpose, government was also focusing on the social sectors. Innovative measures, including Pakistan Development Fund and Pakistan Infrastructure Bank, are being taken to maintain the higher growth trajectory.
On his part, President Kim congratulated Finance Minister on successful completion of the IMF programme and expressed the hope that Pakistan will continue the reform process going forward to sustain the higher growth trajectory. He opined that Pakistan could further benefit from technological improvements in the renewable energy sector. He offered World Bank’s technical and financial help in this regard, the Pakistani embassy said.
