Afghan Government to Build 1680km Gas Pipeline

An agreement for the extension of a gas pipeline from Central Asia to South Asia through Afghanistan's soil will soon be signed, officials say

The Ministry of Mines and Industries said on Saturday that the technical studies of a new pipeline project starting from Turkmenistan, a central Asian country and extending to Pakistan and India in South Asia through Afghanistan's soil will be discussed in the 10th joint conference among Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.

The project will be finalised in the 11th conference to be held between these four countries in the next one month.

The Ministry said that with the construction of this extensive pipeline, which will continue 1680km in Afghanistan's soil, besides granting huge taxes to the Afghan government, job opportunities will be provided for thousands of Afghans.

Economic experts have cited lack of security a major problem confronting the project, and have urged government to provide sufficient security for the implementation of this project.

"The Afghan government will take $3 billion as tax annually after the project is completed," Sayed Masoud, an economy expert told TOLOnews.

"Since security is very important for the implementation of this project, it is also very important to what extent Pakistan acts honestly in terms of the project," he added.

"In areas where gas stations are to be established, new towns will be built due to economic growth and gas supplies," Khan Jan Alokozay, deputy of Afghanistan's Chambers of Commerce, told TOLOnews.

Afghanistan has long been the crossroads between Central Asian countries and South Asia, and the new gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to India through Afghanistan's soil will help boost the shattered Afghan economy.