NEW DELHI: The Government of Pakistan has reiterated its proposal for a Ministerial-level meeting between India and Pakistan at an early date to find an “amicable and mutually satisfactory solution” to the problem of equitable sharing of the water flowing through the two countries. In a Note to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, the Pakistan High Commission in India said that the rapid pace of construction of the Kosi, Gandak and Farraka Barrage projects in India had lent urgency to the problem.

The High Commission asked the Indian Government to give serious consideration to the proposal made in an earlier Note so that the Ministerial meeting could be held without delay. The Pakistan High Commission said that as against the modest requirements of a few thousand cusecs of the Kushtia unit of the Ganges-Kobadak project, the Indian Farraka Barrage alone aimed at a withdrawal of 40,000 cusecs representing as much as 75 per cent to 80 per cent of the available dry weather supplies of the Ganges river.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Dacca], glowing tributes were paid to the rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at the socio-literary functions organised on his 66th birthday throughout the province on Tuesday. In the city several literary functions, organised by various cultural organisations, discussed Nazrul’s literary works, his soul-stirring poems and sang from his freedom songs. Some recited their own compositions paying tribute to the poet who had awakened the then Bengal for the “freedom struggle”. Nazrul Islam is now lying in bed due to paralysis. Addressing [a] symposium, Kazi Motaher Hossain emphasised the need for inclusion of Nazrul’s literature in higher classes of the University.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2015

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