Islamabad needs to fast-track TAPI gas pipeline.

As Turkmenistan targets to achieve financial close of a multibillion-dollar transnational gas pipeline project in November this year, Pakistan needs to expedite work on its part of the pipeline to ensure energy security.

Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (Tapi) gas pipeline project will work as an energy corridor and connect Central and South Asian regions.

Background discussions with officials and experts revealed that the most important part of the project was to kick off construction work on Pakistan's side as it would diversify sources of energy supply.

Turkmenistan has injected billions of dollars from its own resources to develop the gas field from where gas will be supplied and is also trying to generate funds from financial institutions like the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It is also working to generate funds on the credit supplier model.

Total volume of investment is estimated at around $25 billion that includes development of the gas field and building the pipeline from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

The cost of developing the gas field is estimated at $15 billion...