ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: The government on Friday appointed a panel of international experts to monitor studies on the irrigation impact of water releases downstream Kotri.

The appointment was made from amongst a five experts recommended by the World Bank.

The panel's members are: South African Doctor S.M. Basson on water resources, Frendo J. Donszy of Mexico on irrigation and Mr Schultz of the Netherlands on environment.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the provincial irrigation authorities, presided over by Water and Power Secretary Ashfaq Mehmood.

The consultants will initiate their studies in December and the panel will visit Pakistan in January for 10 weeks to monitor their work.

The studies were required to be carried out under the 1991 Water Accord but those could not be started earlier because of inter-provincial disputes.