Pakistan and Turkmenistan will established a working group to discuss and finalize negotiations on electricity Transmission line from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan. The decision to established a joint working group was taken today in a delegation level meeting between the two countries. Pakistan side was headed by Minister for Power Mr. Omar Ayub Khan while the Turkmen side was jointly led by Turkmenistan Foreign Minister HE Rashid Meredov and Energy Minister Mr. Döwran Rejepow. While underscoring the importance of historical and deep bonds between people of Pakistan and South Asia, Mr. Omar Ayub Khan said that there exists a huge potential of trade and development with the interconnection of two regions. He said that Pakistan location offers shortest and most feasible route to sea via its deeps sea ports to the Central Asian States. He stressed that peace and stability must return to Afghanistan which will not only be in the interest of Pakistan but for both regions i.e South and Central Asia. Highlighting the recent policies that present government in Pakistan is undertaking in the energy sector, Mr. Omar Ayub Khan said that open and competitive electricity market is being envisaged which will not only offer exponential investment opportunities to entrepreneurs but also open vistas for regional electricity trade. He said that grids interconnectivity among Central Asian States and South Asian countries will also attract other countries especially along the CPEC route. The Foreign Minister for Turkmenistan thanked Pakistani side for extending warm welcome to the delegation. He agreed with Pakistan’s Minister for Power regarding the importance of existing deep rooted relation between the two countries and expressed the desire to further boost the relations to new heights. He also agreed that both countries must take solid steps to utilize their resources for development and better of their people. The Turkmen Minister for Energy explained that Turkmenistan has huge reservoirs of natural gas and hence its utilization in making affordable electricity is also very feasible. He said that Turkmenistan has already established huge power generation facilities and has surplus electricity available at affordable and competitive rates that can be exported to Pakistan via a transmission line. The Turkmen Foreign Minister added that Turkmenistan President has especially asked him to discuss all viabilities for the project which explain that there exists a strong political will to undertake the project. ***** ?
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