However, the two sides agreed to continue their talks to resolve the dispute in the light of 1991 inter-provincial river water accord, stated a declaration issued after the meeting. The water officials from Sindh will visit Lahore next week on the invitation of Punjab government where the second round of talks would be held, it added. Punjab Senior Minister for Irrigation and Power Raja Riaz, Advisor to the chief minister Punjab Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa along with other water experts held talks over the water issues with Sindh Irrigation Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, secretary irrigation Shuja Junijo and water experts Idris Rajput and A.N.G. Abbasi.

Sindh was demanding implementation of 1991 accord and immediate closure of Chashma-Jhelum link canal so that flow of access water to Punjab could be restricted. The meeting also discussed proposed hydropower projects on Chashma-Jhelum link canal. The statement said that the meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere and there was a detailed discussion on all the aspects. The Government of the Punjab invited a technical team from the government of Sindh to visit Lahore. At the meeting both the sides ensured that all the matters would be resolved in accordance with the 1991 Water Accord. It was stated at the meeting that Government of Sindh’s technical committee would visit Lahore on Monday or Tuesday. Later, the delegation of Punjab called on Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and discussed the water-related issues with him.