Two Central Asian countries, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, would provide electricity to Pakistan via Afghanistan, the Kabul-based private Hindokosh news agency reported.
The four countries have signed a memorandum of understanding on the issue recently, it said. Pakistan will import 1,000-megawatt electricity from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan via Afghanistan and develop the necessary physical infrastructure, according to the memorandum.
Pakistan, which lies to the south-east of Afghanistan and has a population of about 160 million, has fallen short of power due to increasing civilian consumption and booming industries. The electricity line to be established will pass through Afghanistan's northern Kunduz, eastern Nangarhar and several other provinces.
Afghan Minister for Energy and Water Muhammad Ismail Khan said Afghanistan, which also suffers severe power shortage, would use a portion of the electricity besides charging the buyer and supplier countries.
He added experts from the four countries would hold a meeting to discuss detailed issues like charges by Afghanistan. Khan described the proposed project as a boost for economies of Afghanistan as well as for the other three countries.
Tajikistan is Afghanistan's north-eastern neighbouring country, while Kyrgyzstan, which has no border with Afghanistan, lies to the northeast of Tajikistan. Afghanistan's other two northern neighbours, which are Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, have also expressed willingness to export electricity to Pakistan and India via Afghanistan, according to Khan.
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