Pakistan And Central Asia to Sign Power Import Agreement

Pakistan will sign a commercial agreement November 30 that would kick off construction of a 1000-megawatt power import project from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan via Afghanistan, the Daily Times reported on Monday.

During the meeting in Islamabad all the stakeholders agreed that Pakistan would import electricity from Central Asia for only six months annually, primarily during the summer season from April to September, to bridge the power shortfall.

The power supply to Pakistan is expected to start by 2013.

A 935 million US dollar project will be financed jointly by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank.

Afghanistan’s Federal Minister for Water and Power Pervez Ashraf reassured safety for the electric lines and said that the security issue in Afghanistan should not impede the international project.

According to preliminary agreement, out of the total imported 1300 megawatt Pakistan would receive 1000 and Afghanistan 300 megawatt. Central Asian electricity promises to partially satisfy growing demand of energy for development in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Originally posted and written for: Ferghana.ru

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