National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif Wednesday said Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India
(TAPI) gas pipeline is a flagship project of great
significance for both the countries as well as for the whole
region.
The earliest realization of this Gas Pipeline project
would advance the shared goals of energy security and regional
prosperity, he said.
The Prime Minister said “Apart from helping Pakistan in
the fulfillment of its gas requirements, the project will
integrate the region economically and politically.”
The Prime Minister was talking to Chairperson of the
Mejlis of Turkmenistan Mrs. Akja Nurberdiyeva who along with a
delegation called on him at the PM House, said a press
release.
Prime Minister Sharif said that frequent exchanges of
parliamentary delegations would prove enormously beneficial
for strengthening of democracy in the two brotherly countries.
He further said that Pakistan and Turkmenistan enjoyed
friendly relations, but there were huge opportunities to
further expand the scope of bilateral relationship, especially
the economic ties.
“We wish to see close collaboration between our
parliamentarians, parliamentary committees and parliamentary
friendship groups. I convey my warmest congratulations to
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and the brotherly people
of Turkmenistan on the occasion of 25th anniversary of your
country’s independence,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also conveyed his utmost regards to
the President for his good wishes.
Akja Nurberdiyeva thanked the Prime Minister for
extending warm welcome to the visiting delegation in Pakistan.
“Let me convey the most sincere wishes and
congratulations of the President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on
your successful surgery”, the press release quoted the
Chairperson as saying.
She further said the President was personally
supervising each project to ensure quality and timely
completion.
Tachmuhammet Gulamuhmmededov, Deputy Minister of Energy
Turkmenistan, informed the participants of the meeting that
the TAPI gas pipeline project would be completed and made
operational by December 2019.
He further added that 15km pipeline had already been
laid while geological and technical work was currently
underway for another 80km pipeline.
The visiting delegation also included Maksat Babayev,
Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, Atadjan N.
Movlamov, Ambassador to Pakistan and other parliamentarians.
The meeting was also attended by Sardar Muhammad Ayaz
Sadiq, Speaker National Assembly, Tariq Fatemi, Special
Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs, Shakila Luqman MNA and
other senior officials.