Pakistan can resolve its energy crisis by expediting work on The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline Project, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan Atadjan Movlamov said Thursday.
He said that Turkmenistan is extending its railways and power network to Afghanistan which can offer new opportunities to Pakistan boost its transit trade business and cope with power shortfall. The Turkmenistan Ambassador was talking to a delegatio no of business community, members of which included, President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Haji Ghulam Kadir Sherani, Vice President SAARC Chamber, Iftikhar Ali Malik, Vice President, FPCCI Haroon Rashid, Chairman Media FPCCI Malik Sohail, Hina Mansab and others.
First Secretary Turkmenistan Embassy Charyyev Hydyr and Head of Chancery Sarwar Kayani were also present of the occasion.
Atadjan Movlamov said that concerns about security challenges to TAPI gas pipeline are baseless as Afghan government will get some eight per cent of the revenue while all stakeholders there favour this mega project. He informed that Turkmenistan is holding more road shows on 1,420 millimeters diameter TAPI after holding three in London, New York and Singapore with the help of ADB to attract investors. The Ambassador invited FPCCI to participate in a grand business forum being held in Asghabat in November to explore opportunities adding “we are interested in holding Pakistan Business Forum and single country exhibition to boost bilateral trade.”
Movlamov informed that Pakistan and Turkmenistan will soon hold three separate meetings of working groups on energy, agriculture and trade. On the occasion, President FPCCI Haji Ghulam Kadir Sherani said that energy crisis has crippled economy but projects to import gas are still incomplete. China has built 7500 km pipeline in 18 months to get gas from Turkmenistan but we remained unable to get gas since decades which will need only 1735 km pipeline, he lamented. VP Saarc Chamber Iftikhar Ali Malik stressed the need of taking benefit from the resources of the country having world’s fourth largest reserves of natural gas which are offered on competitive rates.
VP, FPCCI Haroon Rashid said that participation of State Bank of India in the recent TAPI road show in Singapore was encouraging which is a major step to ensure import of up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. Malik Sohail demanded of the government to ensure import of natural gas without wasting time, adding that Pakistan can also import petroleum products including LPG from brotherly country.
