Pak-Turkmen gas pipeline project to be redesigned - ASIF FAROOQI

Business Recorder

ISLAMABAD (March 6) : Pakistan and Turkmenistan have decided to revive the gas pipeline project connecting the two countries, with major changes in its design and route, Business Recorder has learnt through official sources.

During the highest level meeting between Turkmen and Pakistani officials here on Sunday, Turkmen Foreign Minister, Sheikhmuradov came out with a new proposal to re-route the pipeline which is supposed to enter Pakistan after covering a long distance through war-torn Afghanistan.

Sheikhmuradov, who held negotiations with Federal Minister Usman Aminuddin at the latter's residence to specifically discuss the project which is in suspension for the last two years. Sheikhmuradov opined that the project had to be revived and redesigned to make it viable for both the countries.

"Pakistan strongly supports this new idea," Usman Aminuddin said after the meeting. He confirmed that the Turkmen delegation handed over the re-designing proposal of the pipeline project to the Pakistani negotiators in "black and white". "I would look into the proposal myself because of the peculiar nature of the project and the importance the government of Pakistan attaches to it," Usman said. He said his ministry was to start examination of the proposal straightaway as there was not much time available.

"We have to work it out on war footings," he maintained.

The Turkmen delegation comprised officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Energy and Investment.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural resources represented Pakistani delegation headed by Usman Aminuddin.

The two sides discussed various aspects of the project with an aim to restart the physical work at the earliest. Work on the project is halted since the US company, Unicol, withdrew in view of the bad law and order situation in Afghanistan. Lack of resources marred all efforts launched by Pakistan and Turkmenistan to revive the project.

Pakistani and Turkmen officials shared the perception that by re-routing the pipeline, they might attract new funding and technical expertise necessary to revive the project.

Turkmenistan delegation also invited Pakistani officials to a tripartite conference, that Turkmenistan has planned to hold to sort out the hindrances in the way of construction.

Date and venue of the conference are expected to be announced shortly as the Turkmen officials said they need to discuss dates with Afghan authorities as well before making a formal announcement.