Energy-rich Turkmenistan offers assistance to Pakistan

Landlocked Central Asian state wants more trade access via sea

ISLAMABAD:

Turkmenistan Ambassador and Dean of Diplomatic Corps Atadjan Movlamov has emphasised that energy-rich Turkmenistan can meet growing electricity and gas needs of Pakistan.

Talking to the business community during his visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), the ambassador said that Turkmenistan wanted more trade access through sea as it was a landlocked country.

Stressing that transit trade was important for Turkmenistan, he called Karachi and Gwadar ports as the shortest trade routes.

Giving a presentation on the Tapi gas pipeline project, the envoy pointed out that Ashgabat was producing electricity at a very cheap rate, which would help Pakistan to meet the energy needs of its growing population.

“Turkmenistan and Pakistan have a huge potential of bilateral trade that can be enhanced through people-to-people contacts,” he remarked. “Both countries should be connected through an optic fibre cable via the Arabian Sea, which will provide Pakistan benefit of millions of dollars.”

ICCI President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari stressed the need for giving a boost to the economic ties as both sides had the potential to engage in trade of many goods.

“Pakistan and Turkmenistan should facilitate frequent exchange of trade delegations and organise single-country exhibitions on a reciprocal basis to promote trade,” the ICCI chief emphasised.

Talking about forging regional connectivity, Bakhtawari suggested that a transport and goods company could be set up to resolve the logistic problems encountered by the two countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2022.

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