ISLAMABAD: Minister for Commerce, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that the import of electricity from Central Asia by CASA-1000 project is a first major trading connection between the regions of Central Asia and South Asia and will open new avenues of trade.
The Ministry of Commerce sees the project as a principal step towards establishing energy connectivity and creating Central Asia and South Asia regional energy market which is the future vision of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he said in a statement issued here Tuesday.
Energy connectivity will follow road, rail and banking connectivity which will help boost trade and investment across the two regions, he remarked.
Central Asia, he said sits on huge reservoirs of energy, the import of which may help Pakistan reduce its energy deficit greatly.
According to the current agreement, the import of 1000 MW of electricity will reduce 20 percent of Pakistan's energy shortfall.
After extensive negotiations the Government of Pakistan managed to bring the initial transit tariff of 5 cents and 2.5 cents per Kwh demanded by the government of Afghanistan down to just 1.25 cents per Kwh which will keep the prices of imported electricity at very affordable level.
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