Pakistan pushes two-way power trade via CASA-1000 Corridor

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday pitched a bold proposal to transform the CASA-1000 energy corridor into a two-way trade route, offering to supply surplus electricity to Central Asian partners during winter, as Power Minister Awais Leghari called for deeper regional energy cooperation.

Speaking virtually at the Intergovernmental Council meeting in Dushanbe, Leghari urged swift completion of the project linking Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan s hydropower surplus with Pakistan and Afghanistan. But he went a step further proposing a reverse energy flow to allow bilateral trade through the same network, especially during Pakistan s off-peak winter months. CASA-1000 is not just a transmission line it s a platform for prosperity, Leghari said. Pakistan is ready to supply electricity to regional partners when they need it most.

The minister underscored Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s commitment to completing the long-delayed project, calling it a strategic tool for energy security, economic growth, and regional trust-building. Despite delays, he said Pakistan has secured and maintained its CASA-related infrastructure and is fully aligned with the project s future rollout. Energy ministers from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, along with global stakeholders, attended the meeting. CASA-1000, once operational, is expected to transport 1,300MW of clean energy across 1,200 kilometers.