Zardari Says TAPI Project Most Important For Pakistan

President Asif Ali Zardari has told his Turkmenistan counterpart that successful completion of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project is of utmost importance to Pakistan which will in turn usher in a new era of cooperation at the regional and interregional levels.

'Pakistan is considering the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline as a major project, which is the beginning of a new era of cooperation at the regional and interregional levels,' various media reports quoted Zardari as saying.

Zardari added that increasing dynamics of mutually beneficial partnerships is due to strategic location, rich hydrocarbon resources of Turkmenistan, opportunity provided by Pakistan to use the ports for access to various world markets.

Last month, Turkmenistan has signed gas sale agreement with India and Pakistan. State Gas Systems of Pakistan and GAIL (India) would be designated buyers of the Turkmen gas.

The pipeline is expected to supply 90 million cubic meters of natural gas daily. The next step for TAPI's four countries is the issue of attracting commercial partners for constructing, financing and managing the pipeline. The project cost is estimated at $7.6 billion.