Pakistan to get cheap electricity through CASA-1000

Ambassador of Tajikistan Sherali Jononov on Wednesday said supply of cheap electricity to Pakistan was expected to start from 2018 through CASA-1000.

Addressing the business community in a function held at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), he said Tajikistan had already started upgrading its hydel power stations which will be completed well before 2018.

He said four heads of the states, including Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sahrif and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, will meet in Dushanbe on May 12 this year. He said Tajikistan was very rich in oil and gas resources and a project to provide gas to Pakistan and India through TAPI ( Turkmenistan- Afghanistan, Pakistan, India) was also under- construction.

Commenting on the road link between these countries, he said a transit trade agreement had already been signed. He said both the countries had already discussed various road projects, including one from Gwadar to Tajikistan via Quetta, Chaman, Kandar and Kabul. Similarly, another project was under consideration to build a road from Peshawar to Tajikistan via Torkham and Kabul.

Another project was to build a direct road from Pakistan to Tajikistan via Chitral. However, in this connection a positive nod from Afghanistan is still awaited, he added. Regarding banking services, he said the National Bank of Pakistan ( NBP) had already established its branch in Dushanbe which had brought a significant improvement in our bilateral trade.

He termed 'Pak-Tajik Trade & Cultural Festival 2016' as a positive step to promote bilateral trade between two countries and said that Pakistani businessmen should visit and explore the market.

He particularly urged textilers of Faisalabad to visit and establish their textile related units in Tajikistan which has abundant of electricity, water and high quality cotton. Mr Maruf Jon Commercial Attache of Tajikistan said his country had just started its journey and hoped that their Pakistani brethren will play their role in its progress and prosperity.