China helping Pakistan construct 6 dams on Indus River in PoK, says MoS VK Singh

Amid the ongoing Indus Water Treaty conflict with India, Pakistan has started the construction of 6 dams on Indus River. The dams are being built in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) with China’s help, MoS VK Singh said.

“Pak constructing six dams on Indus River in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir with assistance committed to those projects by China,” MoS MEA VK Singh twitted.

Singh also said that these territories where China is helping Pakistan build six dams are illegally occupied and any construction activity there violates India’s sovereignty.

“These territories illegally occupied by Pak; collaborative activity there is in violation of India’s sovereignty & territorial integrity,” VK Singh said in a series of tweets.

“Accordingly, we have made demarches to both Pak & China conveying position. Govt will continue to maintain this position,” he added. China is planning to produce 4500 Megawatt electricity with the help of these dams.

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Pakistan has been constructing these dams for the last few years but due to lack of funds, the work was suspended. Also, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had refused to give 14 billion dollar loan to Pakistan.

However, Pakistan has now found the helping hand in China who has agreed to fund these projects.

Earlier on Wednesday, ignoring Pakistan’s protest, the World Bank has allowed India to construct hydroelectric power facilities on tributaries of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

Pakistan opposes the construction of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric power plants being built by India in Jammu and Kashmir, the global lender said in a fact sheet issued Tuesday.