Turkmenistan, Pakistan confirm commitment to TAPI gas pipeline project
ASHGABAT (TCA) — Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry reports that on March 12, a delegation of Turkmenistan headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Pakistan. The Turkmen delegation was received by President of Pakistan Mr. Arif Alvi. During the meeting, a high level of cooperation between the two states in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres was noted. Special attention was paid to expanding the Turkmen-Pakistan economic partnership, including in the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (TAPI) construction project, power and fiber-optic communication lines along the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) route, as well as the creation of new transport corridors. During the meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan, a thorough exchange of views took place on the current state and prospects for the development of Turkmen-Pakistani cooperation. The gas and transport and communication sectors were mentioned as priority areas for trade and economic partnership. At the same time, the head of the Government of Pakistan expressed strong support for the TAPI project, the construction of the TAP transmission line, and the creation of a new transport and transit corridor from the seaports of Pakistan to the international seaport of Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan. Following the visit, the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Pakistan on the establishment of the Turkmen-Pakistan Joint Business Council, and the main conditions of the Agreement with the Government of the host country of the project of construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.
