Pakistan, Turkmenistan to sort out issues concerning TAPI  

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkmenistan have agreed to appoint a high-level official from Islamabad to resolve longstanding issues concerning the multi-billion dollar Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.

The decision was made on Wednesday at a meeting between a high level delegation of Turkmenistan led by State Minister and Chairman of Turkmengas Maksat Babayev and Pakistan’s Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik.

Both sides discussed various aspects of the flagship TAPI project.

Malik reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to TAPI and highlighted the energy potential Turkmenistan holds. “TAPI is a transformation agenda for the region, not just a pipeline,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Turkmen delegation thanked Pakistant’s support and cooperation for the project. 

TAPI, also known as Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, is a natural gas pipeline being developed by the Galkynysh – TAPI Pipeline Company Limited with the collaboration of the Asian Development Bank.

The project was originally conceived in the 1990s with a view to monetize Turkmenistan’s gas reserves through gas exports to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and, potentially to India.

According to some media reports, Pakistan is demanding a revision of gas tariffs and project costs.