Energy to figure high during PM’s trip to Tajikistan

Talks will be held on power and oil supply.

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is set to leave for Tajikistan on Tuesday with energy cooperation and water management high on the agenda including an early execution of the Casa-1,000 power supply project, oil import and participation in a conference on implementing the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-15.

According to officials, a key focus of the trip is the international gathering that will deliberate on water issues, where United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will also be present.

The main goal of the water decade is to push for efforts to help honour pledges on water and water-related issues by the end of 2015. These commitments include development goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in particular cutting to halve the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

In the water forum, for which Sharif was invited by Tajikistan, the participants will hold a comprehensive discussion on implementing the international decade, which will play a crucial role in conducting a comprehensive review and bring its results to the notice of the wider international community.

Seventeen Pakistani companies have expressed interest in taking part in the conference. All resolutions have so far been adopted with the support of Pakistan that has voted in favour of Tajikistan on water issues in the United Nations.

In meetings on the sidelines of the conference, PM Sharif and Tajikistan authorities will take stock of progress on the Central Asia-South Asia (Casa) 1,000-megawatt electricity supply project, which will be completed in 2018, and the transit route for oil supply to Tajikistan.

Tajikistan has praised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as it will provide the cheapest route for shipping goods to the Central Asian states. Dushanbe is also going to be part of a transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to enhance trade with the two countries.

Bilateral trade volume for Pakistan and Tajikistan was $100 million last year and the trade balance was in favour of Pakistan. They have pledged to enhance trade to half a billion dollars in the next five years.

Oil imports

A proposal is being studied for oil supply through the Pakistan route to Tajikistan. Under the plan, landlocked Tajikistan wants to import crude oil from Kuwait via Pakistan, where it will be processed into refined products before shipment to Dushanbe.

In this regard, “Tajikistan has sought assistance of the Pakistan government and the proposal will come up for discussion during the premier’s trip,” an official said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2015.

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