Pakistan and Turkmenistan have inked a joint implementation plan to execute Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The ceremony which was held in Islamabad on Thursday was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a delegation of Turkmenistan led by Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma'a.
Speaking on the occasion, PM Shehbaz Sharif said TAPI is a very important project for the progress of the four countries and the entire region. This will help the region secure natural gas with concrete assurances and mutually agreed terms and conditions, he added.
Highlighting the significance of energy for developing countries, Shehbaz Sharif said they have to negotiate with this challenge through speedy action.
He expressed the confidence that the TAPI project will bring an era of regional cooperation, development and prosperity. He asked the Pakistani team to speed up its planning and then execution.
Shehbaz Sharif said both Pakistan and Turkmenistan are brotherly countries and are ready to expand their economic cooperation.
He mentioned that in view of global situation, energy had become a real challenge. “For a developing country like Pakistan, there is a need for speedy actions to explore the options for energy,” he said.
On the occasion, the prime minister witnessed the signing of the TAP Joint Implementation Plan. State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik and Turkmenistan’s State Minister and Chairman of TurkmenGas, Maskat Babayev inked the accord.
Delegation-level talks
A delegation of Turkmenistan led by Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Jum'a called on Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir in Islamabad.
The progress and future developments of the projects including TAPI pipeline were discussed in the meeting besides mutual relations between the two countries.
Speaking on the occasion, the Federal Minister said Pakistan is desirous to increase the technical interconnectivity with Turkmenistan and bolster friendly relations between the two countries. He expressed need for the input of Pakistan in the pre-feasibility studies regarding the latest supply demand analysis, the revision of project costs and the cost of tariff.