ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: The federal government has asked Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP to recommend their respective panels of experts for appointment as members of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) whose four out of five members would retire within a month’s time.

Sources in the water and power ministry told Dawn on Tuesday that the prime minister had refused to extend the services of two existing members of Irsa representing Sindh and the federal government.

The contracts of three Irsa members — Nasar Ali Rajput, a Sindh-domiciled member representing the federation and current chairman, Sindh member Noor Mohammad Baloch and Punjab member Mian Hafizullah — will expire on Oct 15, to be followed by NWFP member Aslam Saleem Khan on Nov 14.

Balochistan member Rahim Khan Zarkun, whose contract would expire by the end of next year, would take over as Irsa chairman on Oct 16 in place of Mr Rajput. The post of Irsa chairman goes to each province on rotation basis under the 1991 water accord.

The sources said water and power ministry had forwarded the recommendations to extend the contract of Mr Baloch and Mr Rajput as member Sindh and the federation, respectively, for another three-year term on the request of the Sindh government.

The prime minister secretariat, however, turned down the request with the observation that it was the jurisdiction of the federal government to appoint Irsa members from amongst a panel of nominees from the provinces and, hence, the existing members could not be given extension.

The provincial government was also asked to forward two panels of three nominees each so that the prime minister could choose one each from the two panels.

The sources said the governments of Punjab and the NWFP had not yet forwarded their nominations to the power ministry and had accordingly been reminded to send their panel of experts for appointment as provincial members.