ISLAMABAD, 11 DEC (DNA) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Turkmenistan on December 12-13 to participate in the ground breaking ceremony of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline Project, officials said on Friday

The long-awaited nearly 10 billion US dollars pipeline will supply gas to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The approximately 1,600-kilometer (km) pipeline is likely to be built by December 2018.

The President of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan and Vice President of India will also attend the ceremony.

In October the shareholders of TAPI Pipeline Company Limited agreed on their respective shareholding percentages and initialed the Shareholders Agreement, according to the Asian Development Bank

“The Prime Minister’s visit would highlight the importance that Pakistan attaches to the TAPI Gas Pipeline Project and our commitment to its early completion,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Pakistan will be able to import 1325 MMcfd natural gas from Turkmenistan. Thus, this project will help in mitigating energy deficit in Pakistan, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The President of Turkmenistan, Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, had invited the Prime Minister to attend the ceremony.

Nawaz Sharif will attend International Conference being convened in Ashgabat to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality. A number of Heads of State/Government have confirmed to attend the Conference.

In his bilateral interactions with the Turkmen President, the Prime Minister will share Pakistan’s perspective on important developments impinging on peace and security in the region, the Foreign Ministry said

“The Prime Minister will also reiterate Pakistan’s keen desire to sustain and expand bilateral cooperation with Turkmenistan in trade, energy and defence.”

The ADB sys once completed, the TAPI pipeline is expected to export up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India over 3 decades. Turkmenistan has one of the world’s largest proven gas reserves and the pipeline will allow it to diversify its gas export markets.

The Prime Minister’s visit will provide a good opportunity for Pakistan to re-affirm its support for Turkmenistan’s long-standing policy of permanent neutrality. DNA