Pakistan will approach neutral experts to help resolve the dispute arising out of India's plan to construct a 450mw hydropower project on the Chenab River.
Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said in Islamabad on Thursday that his ministry has received orders from Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to inform India about the decision.
According to Pakistan, India will violate the Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960, by going ahead with the project, which has the potential to divert the flow of Chenab's water.
Pakistan argues that under the treaty, it has been given exclusive riparian rights to use the waters of Chenab and Ravi.
Jamali reportedly took about 70 days to take the decision to refer the issue for arbitration.
In a series of meetings during the past two years, India has clarified to Pakistan that the project is not in violation of the treaty.
