This is apropos "Work on TAPI project to begin on December 25: Khaqan" carried by Business Recorder yesterday. It has been reported that Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has stated that work on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline would be inaugurated on December 25, 2015, whereas the project would be completed in three to four years.
He has also reportedly stated that during the recent meeting of the TAPI steering committee in Ashgabat, it was decided that Turkmenistan state-owned company Turkmengaz would lead the consortium for an 1800-kilometre pipeline carrying gas from the Central Asian energy-rich state to energy-hungry India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
No doubt the December 25, 2015 date is a highly significant development that has clearly raised hopes of bringing to Pakistan Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan. It is also meant to reach India via Pakistan. Such energy linkages are likely to foster greater peace in the region. India, the largest economy among countries that are linked to this pipeline, is required to play a more proactive role towards the completion of this mega energy project.