PM Nawaz, Tajik president agree to boost energy ties

PM Nawz says CASA-1000 would prove a significant milestone for Pakistan to minimise its electricity shortage

DUSHANBE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon on Wednesday agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in areas of trade, energy and connectivity.

Chairing a delegation-level meeting at the presidential palace in Dushanbe, the two leaders emphasised close collaboration between Pakistan and Tajikistan at the levels of government and people.



Prime Minister Nawaz arrived in Tajikistan to attend the launching ceremony of the CASA-1000 project. In his remarks at the meeting, the premier said CASA-1000 would prove a significant milestone for Pakistan to minimise its electricity shortage.

While apprising the Tajik president about his vision to overcome Pakistan’s power crisis in the country by 2018, Prime Minister Nawaz said Islamabad attaches great importance to its relations with Central Asian countries, particularly Tajikistan.

Both leaders agreed that connectivity holds key to regional integration and expressed satisfaction over the recent launch of direct flights of Tajikistan’s Somon Air from Lahore to Dushanbe.

Premier Nawaz mentioned that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan had steadily risen to $89 million in 2014 and called for boosting it to $500 million in the next three years.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would provide new opportunities for enhanced connectivity and integration from Gwadar to Kashgar, besides providing a road link with Tajikistan and other Central Asian states through Murghab. He offered Tajikistan the use of Pakistani sea ports for import and export.

Direct Lahore-Dushanbe flights to begin next month

Nawaz also said Pakistan attaches great importance to security cooperation with Tajikistan, and proposed sharing experience on counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, controlling human trafficking and border control practices.

President Emomali Rahmon welcomed the development of CPEC and acknowledged Pakistan’s support to the request by Tajikistan to accede to the Quadrilateral Agreement on Traffic in Transit among China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan.

Earlier, the premier was accorded a red-carpet welcome upon arrival in Dushanbe. He was received by his Tajik counterpart, Kokhir Rasulzoda, and presented with bouquets by two children and a salute by contingent of static guards.

Nawaz also made a stopover in the Tajik city of Kulob to pay respects to great 14th century sufi saint Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani.

CASA-1000 inauguration

The inauguration of the CASA-1000 power project will be held on Thursday in Dushanbe and will be attended by the leaders of all participating countries along with other stakeholders. Under the flagship $1.17 billion project, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will supply 1,000MW to Pakistan and 300MW to Afghanistan. The project is likely to be completed by 2018.



The CASA-1000 project will help mitigate electricity deficit of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and will go a long way in furthering regional integration.

A source privy to the developments said Afghanistan was hesitant about attending the inauguration and was considering withdrawing from the project. He added that Pakistan convinced Afghanistan against doing so.

The source said the CASA project was to be shelved last month due to various constraints, but Pakistan played a leading role in keeping it on track. He said Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif led political efforts in this regard while Water and Power Secretary Younas Dagha contributed in terms of technical expertise.

The source added that although work done so far indicates the CASA project costs $1.17 billion, the actual cost will be determined when the bidding process is completed.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2016.