Kyrgyzstan envoy hopes for CASA-1000 completion

Project will meet energy needs, strengthen regional connectivity


APP June 28, 2022
Photo: File

ISLAMABAD:

Kyrgyzstan Ambassador Ulanbek Totuiaev has voiced hope that the Casa-1000 electricity transmission project will be completed soon, which will meet Pakistan’s energy needs and enhance bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

 “Casa-1000 project is aimed at taking surplus electricity from the Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan hydropower stations in summer to Pakistan through the territory of Afghanistan,” the Kyrgyz ambassador told APP on Sunday.

 “This massive infrastructure project will be beneficial for all parties by meeting the energy needs and strengthening the regional connectivity,” he remarked.

 “At present, the governments of participating states are actively working on the completion of the project.

 Together with that, the process of building electricity lines is also going on.

” The envoy believes the project will be completed successfully within the set time frame.

 Responding to a question about the future of the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA) among Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, the ambassador said that due to some certain circumstances, such as the difficulties in the flow of goods through the territory of Afghanistan, past problems in crossing the Chinese border because of the Covid-19 pandemic and some other issues, the potential of QTTA was not utilised fully.

 The QTTA was signed on March 9, 1995 in Islamabad to facilitate transit traffic and trade among the member countries and pave the way for an effective connectivity network between Central Asia and Gwadar Port.

 The ambassador pointed out the challenges to the transit routes, particularly in winter when main roads were blocked.

 “In this regard, the four countries are working to increase the efficiency of it by making certain amendments in accordance with the modern conditions or finding more convenient ways for the flow of goods.

” Replying to a question about bilateral trade, the ambassador said that the trade figures were not so high.

 However, he foresaw the rapid development of trade ties, especially taking into consideration the focus of both governments on enhancing cooperation among countries of the region.

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