Indus Waters Treaty Neutral Expert Proceedings (India v. Pakistan)

On 13 October 2022, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), pursuant to Article IX and Annexure F of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, and after consultation with each of the Parties, appointed Mr. Michel Lino as Neutral Expert in these proceedings.

The Neutral Expert’s Terms of Retainer were fixed on 2 May 2023 upon their signature by the Neutral Expert on that date after their signature by the representatives of each Party.

The Neutral Expert appointed the Permanent Court of Arbitration as Registry and Secretariat on 5 June 2023. These Neutral Expert proceedings are administered by the Vienna Office of the PCA, in cooperation with its Mauritius Office.


Case information

Name(s) of Claimant(s) The Republic of India (State)
Name(s) of Respondent(s) The Islamic Republic of Pakistan (State)
Names of Parties -
Case number 2023-14
Administering institution Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
Case status Pending
Type of case Inter-state other
Subject matter or economic sector Electricity/Power
Procedural rules - Other -
Treaty or contract under which proceedings were commenced

Bilateral treaty
Indus Waters Treaty 1960
Country A: India
Country B: Pakistan

Language of Proceeding English
Seat of Arbitration (by Country) - N/A -
Arbitrator(s), Conciliator(s), Other Neutral(s)

Neutral Expert:

Mr. Michel Lino

 

Technical Assistant to the Neutral Expert:

Mr. Luc Deroo

Representatives of the Claimant(s)

Designated Representative for India:

 

Ms. Debashree Mukherjee

Secretary

Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation

Ministry of Jal Shakti

 

Representatives for India:

 

Shri J. P Singh

Joint Secretary in charge of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI)

Ministry of External Affairs

 

Mr. Darpan Talwar

Commissioner (Indus)

Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

Ministry of Jal Shakti

 

Lead Counsel for India:

 

Mr. Harish Salve, KC and Senior Advocate

Representatives of the Respondent(s)

Designated Representative for Pakistan:

 

Mr. Ahmad Irfan Aslam

 

Deputy Designated Representative for Pakistan: 

 

Mr. Raja Naeem Akbar

Federal Secretary

Ministry of Law and Justice

 

Representatives for Pakistan:

 

Mr. Syed Ali Murtaza

Federal Secretary

Ministry of Water Resources

 

Mr. Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah

Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters

 

Mr. Khalid Mahmood

General Manager, Water and Agriculture Division

National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK)

 

Mr. Someir Siraj 

Head of the International Disputes Unit

Office of the Attorney-General

 

Mr. Zohair Waheed

Ms. Leena Nishtar

Office of the Attorney-General

 

Mr. Syed Shahroz Bakhtiyar

Office of the Minister of Law and Justice

 

Ms. Zainab Malik

Office of the Secretary of Law and Justice

 

Counsel for Pakistan:

 

Sir Daniel Bethlehem KC

Professor Philippa Webb

Twenty Essex, London

 

Professor Attila Tanzi

Dr. Cameron Miles

3 Verulam Buildings, London

 

Mr. Sean Brannigan KC

4 Pump Court, London

 

Mr. Stephen Fietta KC

Ms. Laura Rees-Evans

Ms. Miglena Angelova

Mr. Abdullah Tariq

Ms. Jane Byrne

Ms. Megan Rippin

Fietta LLP

Representatives of the Parties
Number of Arbitrators in case 1
Date of commencement of proceeding
Date of issue of final award -
Length of Proceedings -
Additional notes -

Documents

Procedural Documents
Supplemental Rules of Procedure (including Work Programme)
Revised Work Programme dated 21 August 2023
Revised Work Programme dated 11 October 2023
Revised Work Programme dated 2 November 2023
Revised Work Programme dated 29 May 2024
Protocol Concerning the First Site Visit dated 14 May 2024
Revised Work Programme dated 4 June 2024
Press Release
Press Release dated 8 November 2023
Press Release dated 8 July 2024
Image
First Meeting Photo No.1
First Meeting Photo No. 2
Second Meeting Photo No. 1
Second Meeting Photo No. 2
First Site Visit Photo No. 1
First Site Visit Photo No. 2
First Site Visit Photo No. 3
First Site Visit Photo No. 4
First Site Visit Photo No. 5
First Site Visit Photo No. 6
First Site Visit Photo No. 7
First Site Visit Photo No. 8
First Site Visit Photo No. 9
First Site Visit Photo No. 10