ISLAMABAD, May 31: The neutral expert appointed by the World Bank to arbitrate on the Baglihar dam row between Pakistan and India will hold two more meetings with both sides before giving his verdict, it is learnt.

The decision was taken at a meeting in London.

Neutral expert Raymond Lafitte informed the Pakistani and Indian delegates at the end of the meeting that he would hold two more rounds with them before announcing his decision, informed sources told Dawn on Tuesday.

Before going into the final phase, the neutral expert will give a preliminary determination at the next meeting that has been scheduled for October in Paris.

The final round will take place in November in Washington.

The verdict on the issue will be announced within a month of that meeting.

On Jan 18, 2005 Pakistan approached the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert to settle the dispute after bilateral negotiations failed to resolve it. Under the Indus Waters Treaty, the bank appointed Raymond Lafitte, a Swiss Civil engineer, as a neutral expert.

Pakistan says the design of the hydroelectric dam, being constructed by India on Chenab River, violates the 1960 treaty brokered by the World Bank.—Q.A.