Dushanbe (July 06, 2017): Pakistan is committed to the earliest implementation of CASA-1000 project, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said while addressing the Quadrilateral Session of CASA-1000 conference here today. President of the host Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Afghanistan, and Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan were present at the moot.
Saying that Pakistan needs energy for its socio-economic development and run its industrial sector to its full potential the prime minister added that CASA-1000 project would help generate employment opportunities and uplift standards of living of people of Pakistan.
Expressing satisfaction that some of the world’s leading manufacturers have shown keen interest to provide Converter Stations for CASA-1000 the prime minister pointed out that tenders for transmission lines from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan and from Tajikistan to Afghanistan have been floated and are currently being evaluated.
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The prime minister hoped that worked on the project will start at the earliest. He also described CASA-1000 as the flagship project in the region connecting Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia to Afghanistan and Pakistan in South Asia through an power grid.
Saying that Pakistan will get 1,000 MW and Afghanistan 300 MW electricity in summer time from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan the prime minister said that the project will help bring a number of economic, social and environmental benefits to member countries. In addition it would also help reduce the energy deficit, create jobs, improve trade and reduce carbon dioxide emissions thanks to the supply of clean energy. It will also contribute to regional integration.
The Prime Minister said the project is an important step toward realization of the planned Central Asia South Asia Regional Electricity Market. It will be a good example of promoting cooperation between energy-deficient South Asia and energy-rich Central Asia, he added.
The CASA-1000 Power Project will not only bring revenues to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan but will also mitigate electricity shortages in Pakistan and Afghanistan and increase the prospects for growth.
It will also be a source of revenue for Afghanistan opening up greater business and investment opportunities.
Earlier, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani held an informal meeting in Dushanbe on Thursday. Both leaders will hold one on one meeting later today. A trilateral meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan will also be held to discuss regional security and other issues of mutual understanding.
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