Karachi: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said that Pakistan is ready to reap benefits of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline, despite India’s alleged lack of interest.

“On TAPI, there is lot of enthusiasm from Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said Kakar in an interview with Anadolu Agency, state-run news agency of Turkiye, on sidelines of 16th Economic Cooperation Organisation summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last day.

“It can ensure cheap and sustainable supply of energy to Indian economy. But if they choose to remain out of benefit of this whole arrangement, they still can do it,” he said.

“But my own understanding is that with or without India, Turkmen gas can be exploited for economic benefit of this region, and we are very much focused to achieve that target.”

Multi-billion-dollar TAPI project is natural gas pipeline being developed by Galkynysh-TAPI Pipeline Company Limited with participation of Asian Development Bank. Pipeline will transport natural gas from Galkynysh Gas Field in Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India.

During interview, Kakar termed Pakistan-Turkiye’s ties as “Fabulous”, while calling for enhanced “Coordination and cooperation” between two allies.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 11 2023

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