Tajikistan to help Pakistan to overcome energy crisis: envoy
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ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Tajikistan Sher Ali Jononov said his country was preparing to export sizeable quantity of electricity to Pakistan to lessen intensity of energy crisis, which has compromised economic growth.
He said his country wanted to enhance bilateral trade with Pakistan and invited business community to visit his country to explore investment opportunities and organise trade exhibitions.
Sher Ali Jononov meeting with Dr Murtaza Mughal President of Pakistan Economy Watch said Pakistanis were hardworking and highly gifted people and future of this country was very bright.
The energy sector of Tajikistan had been showing sustainable growth for the last 15 years transforming his country into world’s third largest producer of hydroelectric power after United States and Russia, he added.
Hydroelectric generation accounts for 76 percent of the total energy output of the country and the total estimated cost of the project which would lighten Pakistan through Tajik electricity has been estimated at $1.160 billion, which would be financed by World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and other donors.
Jononov said this project would not only alleviate electricity shortage in Pakistan but would also replace fuel-based electricity generation for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
It will establish Afghanistan as a viable transit country and offer transmission capacity for other countries during off-peak season. He said it would create a viable governance mechanism to build confidence among neighbours as major share of export would be used by Pakistan and approximately 300 megawatts would be utilised by Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s economic indicators are improving and we have keen interest in importing sports and surgical goods from Pakistan.
Dr Mughal said Pakistan as a gateway to Central Asia for trade and commerce would provide Central Asian states a very strong market with immense opportunities.
Central Asia South Asia 1000 project is major electricity transfer projects which will transfer 1,300 megawatts to Afghanistan and Pakistan and any change of plans may delay the project, he said.
He stressed frequent exchange of trade delegations, joint ventures and strong business-to-business links to explore mutual trade potential between the two countries.
Both countries can cooperate in field of exploration, extraction and processing of gas and oil products, said Dr Mughal.
