KARACHI: Pakistan Foreign Office has received a proposal for the settlement of the inter-Dominion canal water dispute from the Indian Foreign Ministry, it was learnt from authoritative sources in Karachi on Tuesday [Nov 8]. The proposal … was made at Secretariat level. The proposal … envisages an inter-Dominion experts’ committee to discuss the entire problem anew. The Indian proposal is reported to be under active consideration of the Pakistan Government. A reply will be sent to India “very soon”. [Meanwhile,] the National Bank of Pakistan will be launched with five pay offices in West and East Pakistan today [Nov 9]. … The bank will primarily provide credit facilities to Jute and Cotton trade. Later on the Bank would take up other banking business, it was announced in a Press note… . [According to news agencies from London,] Marshal Stalin’s absence from the big Soviet anniversary day celebrations … revived speculation about his health. He will be 70 years old next month and has repeatedly admitted to western visitors since the war that he is getting to be an old man.