Pakistan and Turkmenistan on Thursday signed a Joint Implementation Plan (JIP) in a bid to expedite work on the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and complete the feasibility of the project at the earliest. The JIP was signed by Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik and State Minister and Head of TurkmenGaz, Maksat Babayev, said a press release. The signing ceremony was witnessed by PM Shehbaz Sharif, senior cabinet functionaries, representatives from Petroleum Division and Inter State Gas Systems Pvt. Ltd. The accord was signed at the end of two-day visit to Pakistan by a high-ranking Turkmenistan delegation headed by Maksat Babayev, State Minister and Head of TurkmenGaz, Deputy Minister of Energy Annageldi Saparov, CEO and Chairman of BOD, TPCL, Muhammetmyrat Amanov. It said that the JIP would envisage the constitution of a Senior Coordination Committee (SCC) to expedite and oversee the project activities. The Prime Minister nominated Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Jehanzeb Khan to work as a focal person from the Pakistan side as the head of the Senior Coordination Committee. Govt of Pakistan also invited Turkmenistan to explore gas connectivity from the Chaman border to Gawadar and building LNG terminals at Gawadar, which would expand supplies to Europe and global LNG markets. The TAPI gas pipeline project aims to bring natural gas from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan. The pipeline will transport up to 33 billion cubic metres (bcm) (average 3.2 BCFD) of natural gas per year over a 30-year period. The supply source is the Galkynysh gas field in the eastern region of Turkmenistan whereas Pakistan’s off-take will be 1.3 BCFD with a pipeline dia of 56 inches. The proposed route is Supply source – Herat – Kandahar – Chamman – Zhob – DG Khan – Multan – Fazilika with a pipeline length of 1849 KMs. The engagements/interactions of the Turkmen delegation were characterised by mutual goodwill in a spirit of understanding, cooperation, and amity. The Turkmen delegation offered its profound gratitude to its Pakistani “brothers” for their “traditional hospitality” and remained optimistic that bilateral ties between the two friendly countries would continue to expand in all spheres. The TAPI project will be transformative towards the energy security of Pakistan. Low-cost gas supplies will make Pakistan’s industrial sector competitive worldwide and lead to far-reaching employment opportunities for the youth. Pakistan continues to attach great importance to the TAPI gas pipeline project to meet emerging energy challenges for the country and as a manifestation of meaningful commercial, energy cooperation between Pakistan and Central Asia.