ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday urged President World Bank (WB) Jim Yong Kim to fulfill the WB’s legal obligations regarding Indus Basin Water Treaty.
The WB President Jim Yong Kim made a telephone call to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss issues relating to Indus Basin Water Treaty.
The call was in response to a letter written to the World Bank President by the Finance Minister on last Friday. In the letter, Pakistan had urged the World Bank to fulfill its obligations under the Treaty.
It is to be mentioned here that the World Bank Group on December 12 announced a pause in the separate processes initiated by India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements.
The announcement temporarily halts the appointment of a Neutral Expert, as requested by India, and the Chairman of the Court of Arbitration, as requested by Pakistan, to resolve issues regarding two hydroelectric power plants under construction by India along the Indus rivers system.
Both processes initiated by the respective countries were advancing at the same time, creating a risk of contradictory outcomes that could potentially endanger the Treaty. However, Dar had expressed reservation over the WB’s decision in his letter.
