Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Friday said Pakistan wanted early start and completion of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (Tapi) gas pipeline project to meet its energy requirements. Talking to newsmen here on Friday, Sartaj Aziz said due to delay in the Tapi project, its cost had been increased from three billion dollars to seven billion dollars adding if it would be started that day it would be completed in three years.
He said it was an important gas project which was necessary for the solution of energy crisis being faced by Pakistan. He said more than 50 percent gas requirements of Pakistan could be met if the Tapi project would be completed. Replying to a question about the security of the project, especially in Afghanistan and to protect it from Taliban, Sartaj Aziz said as Taliban also needed energy and gas for their own requirements, therefore they would not damage such important infrastructure.
He said in the past, despite many attacks, Taliban never damaged or attacked such energy infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan also wanted to increase linkage with Turkmenistan through rail and road so that people to people contacts could be strengthened besides improving bilateral trade and economic ties.
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