Nawaz Sharif stresses on early implementation of TAPI project

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday called for early implementation of a trans-Afghan gas pipeline that will import natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India.

According to Pakistani Media outlets reports, Sharif said this project – with a design capacity to supply 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per annum – is very important for all countries of the region and Pakistan is keen that it is expedited.

“We are facing shortage of gas, and this project will help us immensely in meeting the deficit. We all should take this opportunity seriously so that we can fulfil our obligation to our peoples,” Pakistani prime minister said.

Sharif was chairing a TAPI meeting attended by Yagshgeldi Kakayev, Director of the Turkmen State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources; Daoudshah Saba, Afghan Minister of Mines and Petroleum; Dharmendra Pradhan, Indian Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas; Klaus Gerhaeusser, Director-General of the Asian Development Bank and other senior local officers.

The visiting ministers of the member countries shared the views of Pakistan on this very important project for the region and called this a win-win project for all the nations, the statement said.

The gas pipeline project is a 1,680 km-pipeline with design capacity to supply 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per annum from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.