PM Abbasi visits Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to attend TAPI groundbreaking ceremony

In this file photo, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi speaks during an interview at his office in Islamabad, Pakistan Sept. 11, 2017. (REUTERS)

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is visiting Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, on Thursday.
Prime Minister office said in a statement on Thursday that the visit is aimed to “participate in the ground-breaking (link-up) ceremonies of Turkmenistan- Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, lines of electricity transmission and fiber optics.”
The statement added that the ground-breaking ceremonies will be jointly attended by PM Abbasi, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Malikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov, President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani and Minister of State for External Affairs of India, M.J Akbar.
The first leg of the ceremony will be held in Serhetabat, Turkmenistan.
During his stay, the Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with the Turkmen President and also attend an Arts & Culture exhibition showcasing cultural performances and artistic pieces from the four member countries, including Pakistan, followed by the link-up ceremony where he will make a statement, along with leaders of other member states.
“The Prime Minister will then proceed to Herat, Afghanistan on the same day to attend the Afghan leg of the groundbreaking ceremony,” Statement read.
Pakistani Prime Minister will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Afghan President after the groundbreaking.
Four-nation TAPI gas line project is seen as vital plan to help the Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India to meet their energy needs.