World Bank to Announce Fresh Initiative on Water Conflict between Pak-India

September 25, 2018 (MLN): World Bank is in the process of finalizing a fresh initiative on the water conflict between India and Pakistan, and would soon be approaching the two countries with details on the matter, hinted President World Bank Jim Yong Kim during a meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a meeting with President World Bank Jim Yong Kim on the sidelines of the 73rd UNGA session to discuss the World Bank’s role in the implementation of the Indus Water Treaty as its Administrator, and seek its help in the resolution of the water conflict between the two neighbours.

The Foreign Minister while presenting Pakistan’s position on the Kishan Ganga and Ratle projects voiced his criticism on these projects and held responsible the procedurals delays on Pakistan’s request to the World Bank to empanel the Court of Arbitration as one of the factors that resulted in the completion of the Kishan Ganga Projects. He also stressed on Pakistan’s opposition to the Ratle projects, construction work on which is still in progress.

The Foreign Minister said that the Indian construction of these projects represented a violation of the Treaty, which gave Pakistan exclusive rights to western rivers and said that the new government does not wish to politicize the issue, but views it as a humanitarian issue with lives and livelihood of millions at stake.

The President of the World Bank said that he understood Pakistan’s position on the Treaty and expressed the Bank’s desire to play a constructive role in resolving this important matter at the earliest.

He remarked that, with the ongoing challenge of climate change, water issues were likely to be more prominent on the international agenda.

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