ISLAMABAD, Nov 25: Pakistan has formally asked the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert to resolve the dispute arising out of the construction of Baglihar hydropower project by India on Chenab river in violation of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.

"We have written a formal letter to the World Bank to immediately appoint a neutral expert," a senior official in the water and power ministry told Dawn on Thursday. This is for the first time in the 44-year history of the treaty that a dispute has been referred to the World Bank which had brokered the treaty and stands guarantor to it.

In the letter, according to the official, Pakistan has referred to Article IX and Annexure-F of the treaty which deal with the appointment of a neutral expert and the dispute-resolution method. Pakistan has also listed attempts it has made to resolve the issue bilaterally.

When asked if India has been informed about the letter, he said: "They know everything." Water and Power Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi, who had accompanied Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his visit to India, told reporters on Thursday that the prime minister had raised the issue with his Indian counterpart and called for addressing Pakistan's concerns over the project.

India had also been told that "as far as the technical data of the project is concerned, it should be handed over to Pakistan without any delay and that there should be no pondage" facility in the project, the minister said.

He said Pakistan had also called for increased interaction between the Pakistani and Indian commissioners on Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) and that India should immediately arrange a visit by the Pakistan's commissioner and his technical team to the project site in occupied Kashmir.

Answering a question as to what was the Indian response to these demands, Mr Jatoi said: "We are awaiting it." At the heart of the dispute is the design of the project which, according to Pakistan, provides for submerged gated spillways and a pondage and, therefore, Indian control over Pakistani waters in breach of the treaty. Pakistan will lose 7,000-8,000 cusecs of water per day if the project is completed in accordance with the existing design.

Repeated calls by Pakistan to suspend work till the resolution of pending issues have been ignored by India. Under the treaty, Pakistan has exclusive rights on the waters of western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - while eastern rivers - Ravi, Sutlej and Beas - have been assigned to India.