DUSHANBE, March 17, 2016, Asia-Plus – Shukurjon Zuhurov, the head of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament, on March 16 met in Islamabad with Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain.
Pakistani
Daily Times
reports that President Mamnoon Hussain said the CASA-1000 project will be a milestone in boosting relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
He said Pakistan is looking forward to the opening ceremony of the CASA-1000 project in May 2016.
President Hussain reportedly stressed that peace in Afghanistan is necessary for peace, security and stability in Pakistan and the region. He said that Pakistan is sincerely pursuing the vision of a peaceful neighborhood and desires to have friendly relations with all its neighbors.
Pakistani website
Business Recorder
reports that President Hussain noted with appreciation that a committee had been formed to prepare preliminary report for additional 1000-1200 MW electricity from Tajikistan to Pakistan outside CASA-1000.
He reportedly called for making concerted efforts for further enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries commensurate to their potential and increase the volume of bilateral trade to US $500 million as already agreed upon by the two countries.
Shukurjon Zuhurov, for his part, thanked President Hussain for the warm welcome and hospitality extended during Tajik delegation’s visit to Pakistan and hoped that bilateral ties would reach new heights through mutual cooperation.
Tajik parliament speaker reportedly expressed Tajikistan”s keen desire for linkages with China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said that projects were already underway for rail and road connectivity with the CPEC.
Zuhurov extended an invitation on behalf of the President of Tajikistan to President Mamnoon Hussain to visit Tajikistan at his earliest convenience.
We will recall that the CASA 1000 Project is expected to develop the necessary physical infrastructure and create the institutional and legal framework to transmit surplus power available from existing generation facilities in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The physical infrastructure for CASA 1000 is likely to include: a 500 kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system between Tajikistan and Pakistan through Afghanistan; an AC transmission link from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to connect to the HVDC line from Tajikistan to South Asia; and the necessary electricity sub-stations in Kabul, Peshawar and Sangtuda (in Tajikistan).
The World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UK Department for International Development (DFID) have reportedly agreed to provide funds for construction of the Tajik section of the regional power transmission line.
The CASA 1000 project is scheduled to be completed in 2020. The total cost of the project amounts to more than $1 billion.
