ISLAMABAD, June 3: Foreign Minister Mian Khurshid Kasuri has said if India does not stop construction work on the Baglihar Hydro-Electric Project and does not agree to address Pakistan's concerns on the design of the plant , Pakistan will approach the World Bank.

In a written reply to a question of the MMA MNA from Dir, Maulana Asadullah, the foreign minister told the National Assembly that the controversy regarding the design of the Baglihar plant had been discussed in several meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission.

However, Mr Kasuri said all these meetings as well as exchange of correspondence have, so far been unable to resolve the questions raised by Pakistan.He said as per provision of the Indus Water Treaty, the Pakistan commissioner for Indus waters on May 8, 2003 asked the Indian commissioner to appoint a neutral expert.

The government of Pakistan, he said, invited India to propose modalities for the appointment of a neutral expert. The Indian government, in response, requested to resolve the matter through bilateral consultations, he added.

He said the Pakistan government, while stating that without prejudice to further steps that Islamabad may deem appropriate under the relevant provisions of the treaty, conveyed its willingness to enter into further negotiations if India agreed to suspend all construction work on the plant, allow on site inspection by the Pakistan commissioner and agreed to an amicable settlement by the end of December 2003.

The foreign minister said India responded partially by allowing on site inspection in October 2003. Mr Kasuri said the design of the plant was found to be not in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty.

He said despite goodwill generated by the recent developments in Pakistan-India relations, Islamabad postponed its decision to approach the World Bank for appointment of a neutral expert and accepted the Indian offer of another round of talks for resolution of questions at the commissions level.

He said a meeting of the Pakistan-India Commission was held in Islamabad from January 15 to 19, this year, but it remained inconclusive.

APP adds: The meeting of the PIC was held in Islamabad from January 15-19 this year and it remained inconclusive, he said. However, Mr Kasuri said that if India did not stop construction work on the Plant and did not agree to address Pakistan's concerns on the design, "we will approach the World Bank". -APP