Turkmen president hold talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain on issues pertaining to bilateral relations and cooperation in diverse fields
ISLAMABAD (Pakistan) – Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received a warm welcome on Wednesday as he arrived here on a two-day official visit. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif warmly received him at the Nur Khan Air Base. Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi were also present. A twenty-one gun salute was given as the visiting President alighted from his plane.
Pakistan and Turkmenistan on Wednesday inked eight accords on cooperation including seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on energy and financial intelligence and a Programme of Cooperation 2016-17.
The visit is being considered significant as both countries are set to review progress and security of the 1,814 km-long Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on oil/gas exploration, energy,technical training and science and technology will also be signed during the visit.
Mobeen Saulat, the CEO Inter-State Gas Systems (ISGS) said that work on the project will be started from January 2017 and is likely to be completed by 2019.Tapi is moving on the fast track towards the right direction and now the second phase of feasibility, security of the pipeline, and removal of mines from the TAPI route is underway. He said Pakistan has played a key role in bringing the TAPI on track.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism financing was inked by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Turkmen counterpart Muhammetguly Muhammedov.
The MoU between National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Pakistan and Magtymguly Turkmen State University (MTSU), Turkmenistan was signed by Rector NUML Maj Gen (retd) Ziauddin Najam and Rector MTSU Gurtnyyaz Hanmyradov. The MoU between COMSTAS Institute of Information Technology and Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management (TSIEM) was signed by Rector COMSATS Junaid Zaidi and Rector TSIEM Owezgeldi Ishanguliev.
A business forum comprising Turkmen and Pakistani businessmen will also be organized on the sidelines of the visit. The relations between Pakistan and Turkmenistan are warm and cordial from historical, cultural, religious, political and economic perspective.
The leadership will also exchange views on the measures for early implementation of the MoU signed in December 2015 during the visit of the Prime Minister to Turkmenistan for import of electricity from Turkmenistan. These mega energy projects will facilitate endeavors by the government to reduce energy deficit in Pakistan and also contribute to regional integration for socio-economic development, peace and stability.
