ISLAMABAD, May 29: A neutral expert appointed by the World Bank to look into a dispute between Pakistan and India over the Baglihar Dam project will hold his first meeting with the two sides on June 9. Raymond Lafitte will hold his first meeting with India and Pakistan in Paris on June 9-10 to address differences between the two nations on the project being constructed by New Delhi on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lafitte has asked the two countries to send their teams to the meeting to finalise mode of proceedings, sources said.

They said the Pakistan government has received a letter from Lafitte who has sent a letter of similar nature to the Indian government.

Representatives of the ministries of water and power and law, foreign office and the commissioner Indus Water Treaty would soon finalise members of Pakistani delegation that would be sent to Paris for talks.

The prime minister is expected to preside over a meeting in this regard in next few days. — PPI