Pakistan hopes WB aware of its role as guarantor of Indus Waters Treaty

Dar says both nations to benefit from abiding by pact

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is pinning its hopes on the World Bank, expecting it to play a constructive role as the guarantor of the Indus Waters Treaty for implementing the water sharing pact between Pakistan and India, officials agreed on Thursday.

“As a guarantor of the treaty, the bank’s management appears to be cognizant of its role,” Pakistan’s Executive Director in the World Bank Nasir Mahmood Khosa said in an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss matters relating to the Indus Waters Treaty on Thursday.





Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhmmad Asif, Attorney-General Ashtar Ausaf Ali and representatives of relevant ministries and departments participated in the meeting. Pakistan’s Executive Director in the World Bank, Nasir Mahmood Khosa participated as a special invitee.

Nasir Khosa briefed the meeting about the World Bank’s role, besides presenting an update on the interaction with the WB management, following finance minister’s telephonic conversations with the President of the World Bank during the last week of December.

The finance minister directed the task force, headed by the Attorney-General, to continue its deliberations and make appropriate recommendations on beefing up the Indus Waters Commission.

The finance minister said that Pakistan viewed the Indus Water Treaty as a useful water sharing mechanism, adding that the country had abided by the treaty since its inception. He said that it was in the interest of both countries to honour and implement the terms of the treaty.

The secretary water and power apprised the meeting of the recent developments with regard to the IWT. Contradictory stances of Pakistan and India were deliberated upon in detail.  Secretary for water and power also informed the meeting about plans for beefing up the Indus Water Commission.



Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Executive Director in the World Bank Nasir Mahmood Khosa called on Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.  Khosa briefed the finance minister on matters relating to financing of various programmes and projects by the World Bank. The executive director also informed the minister about the upcoming visit of the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the World Bank, Kristalina I. Georgieva. She is scheduled to visit Pakistan on January 26-28.

Appreciating the World Bank’s support, the finance minister stated that the bank’s help had been crucial to achieving macroeconomic stability and economic development.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2017.