Pakistan, Afghanistan sign electricity import agreement with Central Asia states

Islamabad, Aug 4, IRNA

Pakistan and Afghanistan will import 1,300 megawatts electricity from two Central Asian states Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan under an agreement signed in Islamabad on Monday.

Under the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) agreement Pakistan will import 1,000 MW and Afghanistan 300 MW.

The transmission line will be 477 km long from Kyrgyz Republic to Tajikistan and 750 km between Tajikistan and Pakistan via Kabul.

The agreement was signed on conclusion of two-day

Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) meeting of Central Asia/South Asia Regional Electricity Market (CASAREM).

The agreement was signed by energy ministers from the four countries in the presence of representatives of the international financial institutions including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank.

Pakistan’s Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf told a news conference that CASA 1000 Project is expected to be commissioned by year 2013.

“The project would go a long way in overcoming power shortages in Pakistan, as well Afghanistan”.

The IGC Secretariat will be set up at Kabul and would become operational with immediate effect. Qazi Naeemuddin of Pakistan has been appointed first Executive Director of IGC Secretariat.

“The project is a landmark as it fosters regional electricity market and brings together countries of Central and South Asia and also opens new vistas of trade and energy among energy rich and energy deficit countries,” Ashraf said.

Minister of Energy and Water of Afghanistan Alhaj Mohammad Ismail Khan said that the agreement will play a vital role in the strengthening of relations between members’ states.

He added it will certainly be a great milestone for the economic development of the members’ states.