Kyrgyz Envoy Hopes For Completion Of CASA-1000, Energy Projects.

ISLAMABAD -- Ambassador of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan Ulanbek Totuiaev on Sunday hoped that the CASA-1000 projects would be completed soon to meet Pakistan's energy needs for enhancing the bilateral cooperation in this sector.

The CASA-1000 project, which was aimed to bring surplus electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan hydropower stations in summer times to Pakistan through the territory of Afghanistan, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan, Ulanbek Totuiaev told mediamen here. The Ambassador said'This massive infrastructural project will be beneficial for all of its parties by fulfilling the energy needs and strengthening regional connectivity. He said that nowadays the governments of participating states are actively working on the completion of the project.' 'Together with that, the process of building electricity lines is also going on,' he added. 'I strongly believe that the above-mentioned project will be completed successfully and on time for the benefit of our countries' he said

Question on future of the Quadrilateral Traffic and Transit Agreement (QTTA) among Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, he replied that due to some certain circumstances, such as the difficulties with transiting goods through the territory of Afghanistan, in past problems with crossing Chinese border because of COVID-19 pandemic and some other issues, the potential of QTTA was not being used in full manner. He said the QTTA was signed on March 09, 1995 in Islamabad to facilitate transit traffic and trade among the member countries to provide an effective connectivity network between Central Asia and Gwadar port of Pakistan in Arabian Sea.

The Ambassador said 'I would like to point out the problems with transit routes, particularly, in the winter period, when the main roads are being timely or permanently blocked.' 'In this regard, nowadays between the countries of the above-mentioned agreement there is a task to increase the efficiency of it by making certain amendments in accordance with the modern conditions, or finding other more convenient ways for transiting goods.' Replying to another question, he said'Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan are highly close countries with deep historical, cultural and religious roots.' Both Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan from ancient times were part of a single common region, he said.

Ambassador Totuiaev said'As evidence to it, it is possible to mention the legacies of the ruler of the Mogol Empire Zahriddin Babur, located in the...