PM arrives in Turkmenistan to attend inauguration of TAPI gas project
PM Nawaz Sharif will embark on a two-day visit to Turkmenistan today (Saturday).
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has arrived in Turkmenistan on a two-day visit today (Saturday) to attend the ground breaking ceremony of a gas pipeline connecting Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
He was received by Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan at the airport.
Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the inauguration ceremony.
TAPI, as the proposed 1,735-kilometer (1,140-mile) pipeline is known, is intended to carry 33 billion cubic meters of gas annually through the Afghan cities of Herat and Kandahar and end up in the India-Pakistan border town of Fazilka.
The viability of the long-discussed project had been in doubt because of arguments over price-fixing and the poor security situation in the areas to be crossed by the pipeline.
During his visit, the Prime Minister will attend an international conference being convened in Ashgabat to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan‘s Permanent Neutrality.
PM Nawaz would also participate in the ground breaking ceremony of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline Project along with the President of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan and Vice President of India.
He will hold a meeting with Turkmen President during which he will share Pakistan s perspective on important developments impinging on peace and security in the region.
Sharif will also reiterate Pakistan‘s keen desire to sustain and expand bilateral cooperation with Turkmenistan in trade, energy and defence.
