Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday praised the leadership of India and Afghanistan for the success of the TAPI gas pipeline project, a $10 billion project designed to reduce its dependence on gas sales to Russia and China.
Presidents Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan and Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan attended the ground-breaking ceremony along with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, marking the beginning of work on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) link.
"This is a momentous day and vital moment has been made possible through the perseverance of all stake holders. Our presence at the highest level to inaugurate TAPI is a clear significance we attach to the game changing project and our commitment to its completion. I would like to complement the leadership of India and Afghanistan in making this project a success," Sharif said here.
The Prime Minister asserted that TAPI was not just a gas transit initiative connecting energy rich Central Asia with the 'energy starved' South Asia, but a 'trail blazing' project that would open doors for greater economic collaboration and integration.
"This project will usher in a new era and transform the lives of millions of our people making TAPI a symbol of shared prosperity and socio-economic development. TAPI gas pipeline project holds a significant place in Pakistan's energy outlook as it serves as a vital component of my government's plans for mitigating Pakistan's energy crisis," Sharif added.
Earlier, Vice-President Hamid Ansari had thanked the Afghanistan President and Pakistan Prime Minister for their active involvement in the TAPI gas pipeline project. He had said that their commitment augured well for the entire region.
India's association with the TAPI project goes back almost a decade. It began as an Observer country at the 9th Steering Committee Meeting in 2006. In April 2008, India was formally admitted as a member of the Project. Since then, India has been actively participating in all the meetings and has been an active votary of the project.
