Islamabad: The World Bank appointed neutral expert to arbitrate on the Indo-Pak dispute over the Baglihar power project in Jammu and Kashmir will deliver his final verdict on February 12.

Raymond Lafitte, who was due to deliver his "final determination" towards end of last year, had put it off till February this year after Pakistan took strong exception to his draft final determination circulated to both the countries upholding the Rs 4,200 crore design even while asking India to reduce the size of the dam.

"The verdict will be relayed on February 12 to either our permanent representative in Geneva or our ambassador in Berne from where it will be electronically transmitted to the foreign office," a senior foreign ministry official was quoted as saying by local daily 'Dawn' today.

The verdict was expected to be handed over to the diplomats of both the countries by Lafitte, it said.

Pakistan is awaiting the verdict to decide on the future course of action on the Kishenganga power project being built by India on the Neelum river on which it has similar objections.

The first phase of the Baglihar project was designed to produce 450 mw of power. The project design was meant to produce 900 mw.

While the reduction of the height of the project, most of which has apparently been built could result in pushing the costs for India and prompt it to scale down the capacity of the power project, Pakistan objected to the draft for clearing the general project design which included the clearance for sluice gates being built beneath it remove silt.