PM leaves for Turkmenistan, Afghanistan today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will pay an official visit to Turkmenistan and Afghanistan 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 prime minister will be leaving for the visit today (Thursday) and return tomorrow late evening. He has been invited by Presidents of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The premier will be accompanied by Minister of State for Energy Jam Kamal Khan.

The ground-breaking ceremonies will be jointly attended by Prime Minister Shahid Abbasi, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Malikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Minister of State 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. Prime Minister Abbasi will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Afghan President after the groundbreaking ceremony.