ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The first supply of gas from Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project to Pakistan would start in the year 2019.
An independent company would ensure gas supply to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, according to official sources here on Monday.
The TAPI gas project would substantially help to meet the energy need of Pakistan.
The sources said that Turkmenistan Government has 85 percent share in the project while Pakistan and India have five percent share.
During recent visit of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov to Pakistan, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif informed the distinguished guest that Pakistan was committed to the early completion of TAPI gas pipeline project, considering it a new chapter in economic collaboration and greater regional integration with Central Asia.
Pakistan was ready to provide any assistance to expedite the implementation process of TAPI and help minimize the project cost.
He said Pakistan viewed TAPI not only as a gas pipeline project, but as a precursor to making it a trade and transit corridor as well.
He said such corridor could comprise gas pipeline, road, electricity transmission and fiber optic lines besides economic zones connecting Pakistan with Turkmenistan.
He said it was essential for the TAPI members to work strenuously for the implementation of the project at the earliest as it would help in integrating the four member states by linking energy-rich Turkmenistan with energy-starved South Asia.
The ground-breaking ceremony of TAPI gas pipeline project was performed at Mary, Turkmenistan in December last year.
The TAPI gas pipeline project, also known as Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, is a natural gas pipeline being developed by the Asian Development Bank.
The pipeline will transport Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India.
The construction on the project started in Turkmenistan on December 13, 2015. The pipeline is expected to be operational by 2019.
Source: APP
