The joint implementation plan (JIP) signed between Pakistan and Turkmenistan on June 8, 2023, aims to accelerate the progress of the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and expedite the completion of the feasibility study. Maksat Babayev, the State Minister of Turkmenistan and head of TurkmenGas, and Dr. Musaddiq Malik, the Minister of State for Petroleum of Pakistan, signed the JIP. The signing ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other high-ranking government officials in Islamabad.
The JIP includes the formation of a Senior Coordination Committee (SCC) responsible for overseeing and expediting project activities. Prime Minister Sharif appointed Special Assistant Jehanzeb Khan as the focal person from Pakistan’s side at the Senior Coordination Committee.
During discussions with the Turkmen delegation, Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that the successful implementation of the TAPI gas pipeline project would enhance energy security and stimulate economic growth not only in Pakistan but also in the entire region.
The TAPI gas pipeline project is designed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field to Pakistan, passing through Afghanistan. The pipeline has the capacity to transport up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually for a period of 30 years. This substantial supply of gas will significantly contribute to meeting Pakistan’s gas demand and help alleviate the country’s gas shortage. The project aims to enhance energy security and promote economic development in the region by facilitating the reliable supply of natural gas to Pakistan.
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