Tapi gas pipeline: Ghani’s visit brightens chances of project’s revival

Forward team of SNGPL reaches Turkmenistan to discuss the project with top bosses of petroleum ministry

LAHORE:

Following reassurances of the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the stalled project of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline has been revived.

A forward team of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has reached Turkmenistan ahead of the managing director of the gas utility and top bosses of petroleum ministry to discuss the long-delayed gas pipeline project.

SNGPL General Manager Transmissions Ali Hussain Qureshi and General Manager Sales Jawwad Naseem along with officials of petroleum ministry have reached Turkmenistan to hammer out agenda of talks with a high level delegation due in capital Ashgabat next week.

Finding no loopholes to bypass international sanctions on pipeline with Iran, Pakistan was forced to reconsider its priorities.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2014.