MANGLA, April 28: Failure to resolve the Baglihar dam issue in accordance with the Indus Basin Water Treaty would create immense problems for Pakistan, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here on Thursday. He was responding to questions from newsmen after getting a briefing on the Mangla Dam raising project here.
Pakistan had been very sensitive to water and power security of the country. Precisely for this reason, it was the first to invoke jurisdiction of the World Bank on the issue of Baglihar dam, he said.
Two days back, the World Bank had proposed the name of three neutral experts on the dam, and both the governments have to respond to the bank’s proposal by May 9.
Pakistan, he said, would stick to the Indus Basin Water Treaty, come what may. Once the neutral experts decide the issue, Pakistan would accept it in true spirit, he added.
When asked what would Pakistan do if India continued to act obdurately in case the World Bank decided in favour of Pakistan, the Mr Aziz said he hoped that would not be the case. The bank would ensure implementation of the treaty in letter and spirit, he added.
The Pakistan government would also be taking up the Kishanganga water project (being built by India on Neelam River) with the Indian government soon.
The PM denied reports that Pakistan had belatedly taken up the issue of the Baglihar dam when India had already started constructing the dam.
Mr Aziz said Pakistan would hold more road shows in the UK and the UAE to attract foreign investment in the energy sector since the demand for energy had been increasing by 10 to 15 per cent.
Talking about delay in Mangla Dam raising project, the PM said that such projects sometimes did suffer some procedural delays, and Mangla Dam had had its own share of teething problems.
But this delay would be made up for and the project completed in time, he hoped.
He said that the government had been aware of a dispute between the contractor and the lessees, and all the stakeholders were trying to sort it out.
The PM directed the ministry of water and power and Wapda to complete the project in time as delays were costing the country millions of rupees.
