Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Central Asia-South Asia-1000 (CASA-1000) power project in Tajikistan on Thursday.
The project is scheduled to be completed in 2020 at a cost of over $1 billion.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov jointly launched the project at an impressive ceremony near Dushanbe.
On the occasion, the leaders were briefed about the project.
The CASA-1000 is a flagship project, and the first of its kind that will link Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan through power grid.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Sharif said the CASA-1000 was an important project in the region connecting Central Asia, Afghanistan and South Asia through electricity grid.
He said upon completion, Pakistan and Afghanistan would obtain 1,000 MW and 300 MW of electricity, respectively, in summer from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan from hydel resources. “This creates a win-win situation for all stakeholders,” he added.
The premier said this project would bring a number of economic and environmental benefits, help reduce energy deficit, improve trade and business links besides promoting friendship among the participating countries.
Sharif said ”the project brings landmark cooperation among the four countries and it is an important step for realisation of plan to South Asia and Central Asia power market”.
He emphasised that connectivity was key to regional integration, economic and trade development as well as people-to-people contacts.
PM Sharif welcomed Tajikistan flight from Dushanbe to Lahore which started from May 6 and provides easy connections to Central Asia, adding that this would enhance commerce and promote tourism.
He said the day was not far off when South Asia would be linked with Central Asia and bring prosperity to the region.
Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s full commitment for timely completion of the project, and appreciated tremendous efforts made by President Emomali Rahmon and his team for the accomplishment of CASA-1000.
In her speech, World Bank Vice President for South Asia region Annette Dixon congratulated the four countries for achieving this significant milestone. She said the World Bank was happy that South Asian and Central Asian countries were demonstrating for cooperation and regional electricity market.
She said the CASA-1000 would ease electricity shortage for Pakistan and Afghanistan during summer when the demand is higher and reduce dependence on costly oil power generation.
She said another benefit of CASA-1000 that would establish Afghanistan as a viable transit country for electricity and later for other exchanges. She said it was a challenging project because the four countries across two regions had to work together.
Dixon said the economic gains from the project could contribute to peace and stability and ensure energy security of the region.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the President of Tajikistan and discussed the whole range of bilateral matters, including trade, energy cooperation and defence cooperation.
The leaders also exchanged views on matters relating to regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Since when India has border with Afghanistan ?
PM of any nation is expected to leave the scene in protest after showing such distorted maps. Our PM remained mum.
Mr Nawaz should have left the ceremony right away
It surely is a Win Win situation for all shameless stakeholders. We would have praised Ganja had he expressed willingness to build a few dams for future hydel projects.
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