ISLAMABAD: The Central Asia-South Asia 1000 (CASA 1000) project to supply 1,000 megawatts electricity through a 750 kilometres long transmission line from Tajikistan to Pakistan would formally be inaugurated in Dushanbe on May 12. The project is signed between Tajikistan and Pakistan that would be completed at a cost of US$ 1.2 billion in two years. According to Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan, Sherali S Jononov, the power import project would help Pakistan to get cheaper and clean energy to minimise its electricity shortages. About security the transmission line passing through Afghanistan, he informed that Kabul had already given a guarantee to ensure security of the transmission line. He said that the hydroelectric power generation had been stable during the last 15 years adding that in addition to big plants, there are also 20 medium and 40 small hydel power plants in the remote mountainous areas with capacity ranging from five kilowatts (KW) to 1,500 KW. He said this would be a major breakthrough in the relations of the two countries adding that all arrangements including necessary financial resources had been made to undertake the project immediately. The ambassador said as per agreement, Tajikistan would export 1000 MW hydel electricity to Pakistan through a 750 kilometres long transmission line by the year 2018. He said that Pakistan was one of the first among those countries who recognised Tajikistan as an independent country and both the brotherly countries are enjoying cordial relations since then. About capacity of export of hydel electricity of Tajikistan, he said that only Tajikistan could export more than 5000 megawatts electricity to Pakistan through hydel projects especially in the summer season. The ambassador further said that work on another transmission line of same capacity of 500KW from Tajikistan to Pakistan via Wakhan Strip bordering Afghanistan would also begin shortly after the working of CASA 1000 MW transmission line. He said that it would be from Hydel project namely Roghun Hydro Power Project which has a total capacity of 3600 MW and price will be very reasonable even nominal basically it would be a gift for Pakistan from Tajikistan. About the future of economic ties between the two countries, he said that Pakistan is enjoying geo-strategic location in the region and Tajikistan would take benefit from this opportunity and would be a partner of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) adding that the trade volume is getting momentum between the two countries day by day and it would be increased to US$ 500 million within next two years.