India, Pak initiate discussion on water-sharing issues

By Our Special Correspondent

India and Pakistan have begun deliberations on issues relating to water sharing under the framework of the Indus Commission.

The 118th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), comprising the Indus commissioners of India and Pakistan, was held in New Delhi during May 30-31. The Indus Waters Treaty, which was brokered by the World Bank, is one of the most durable agreements between the two countries and has weathered several ups and downs in bilateral relations.

Under the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the eastern rivers -- Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi -- amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use.

About 80 per cent of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on the Indus River and its tributaries. But India has a strategic advantage as it controls the flow of the rivers, due to its topography, making the meetings on water sharing imperative for Pakistan.