Islamabad, Aug 8 (UNI) The World Bank has refused to unilaterally decide on appointment of a neutral expert or court of arbitration for settling the water sharing agreement between India and Pakistan and suggested that the two countries mutually opt for an option.
World Bank’s former Country Director of Pakistan Patchamuthu Illangovan said that the two countries should bilaterally decide as to which option to take forward, Dawn reported.
In 2016, Pakistan had complained to the World Bank and urged it to appoint a Court of Arbitration (COA) to decide on the matter while India had sought a neutral expert to resolve differences.
Illangovan made it clear that there exists no provision in the 1960 Indus Water treaty for the World Bank to unilaterally decide on the matter.
He explained that Pakistan’s power sector has become unsustainable due to un-targeted subsidies, inefficient distribution companies and low recoveries. He advised Pakistan that it needs to improve in all these areas and take full advantage of the clean and renewable resources to ensure affordable energy.
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