ASHGABAT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, along with other regional leaders including Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Indian Vice President Muhammad Hamid Ansari and Turkmenistan President Gubanguly Berdimuhamedow, Sunday inaugurated Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
On the occasion, Nawaz said that TAPI gas pipeline project will bring peace and promote trade in the region.
“TAPI gas pipeline project will strengthen relations between the two countries,” PM Nawaz told Turkmenistan President during a meeting.
Further, both countries reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen bilateral relations for mutual benefits, Radio Pakistan reported.
The prime minister is in Turkmenistan to perform the ground-breaking of TAPI gas pipeline project along with other regional leaders.
The trans regional energy project, which will bring gas from energy-rich Turkmenistan, is being dubbed as a major initiative for bringing peace and enhancing connectivity in the region.
Earlier, during his meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Indian Vice President Muhammad Hamid Ansari and the president of Turkmenistan, the $10 billion TAPI project came under discussion. The project is likely to be completed by 2018.
All the leaders emphasised the need for enhanced connectivity for peace and stability in the region.
In his address on Saturday, PM Nawaz emphatically stated that Pakistan attaches great importance to the TAPI project. “With completion of this project, Pakistan will get 1325 MMCFD supply of natural gas which will help overcome the energy deficit,” he said.
