Sept 07, 2016
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said energy import from central Asia will be highly undependable therefore it should be reconsidered.
TAPI gas pipeline and transmission line of KASA 1000 project would pass through volatile Afghanistan being ruled by pro Indian politicians and militants which is a great risk, he said.
Mian Zahid Hussain said alternatively government should expand LNG import project and try to import gas from Iran as soon as possible to tame energy crisis which continue to haunt masses and economy since long.
He said that economic corridor (CPEC) is a fate changing project but it is not acceptable to some powers. Many powerful countries have ganged up to destroy this project. These powers will use all the resources and use two neighbouring countries to damage CPEC which will be a challenge for Pakistan.
A weak, corrupt and pro-India government in Afghanistan will be in a position to interrupt or discontinue supply of gas and electricity to blackmail Pakistan to provide land route to India which will be suicidal for Pakistan, he noted.
He demanded that no country should be given an opportunity to damage economy of Pakistan on the behest of her foreign masters. The clout of a western power over Dauletabad Gas Field in Turkmenistan is no secret.
Our policymakers should not be lured by the central Asia electricity which is cheaper than the Iranian electricity as it can be a bait.
