He expressed optimism that Pakistan's strategy to plug increasing gap in its gas demand and supply would work to the expectations and help Islamabad in thwarting looming energy crisis. He referred to the TAP's steering committee meeting to be held in Islamabad next month.
When asked if Daultabad gas field of Turkmenistan had proven reserves to ensure supply for TAP for the stipulated period, the ADB country director answered in affirmative.
He told a questioner that independent study has confirmed sufficient reserves at Daultabad gas field. According to him, the report of the study would be presented before the steering committee in its next meeting.
Daultabad's proven gas reserves had become a controversy when Afghanistan and Pakistan questioned Turkmenistan's agreement for gas export with the Russian government from the field. The aggrieved members demanded independent study of the field's reserves to prove its life so that TAP did not suffer any setback at any stage.
Marshuk said that storage facility would be a part of the TAP project to keep gas supply smooth in case of disruption or blasting of the pipeline.
He said that the stand-off at Sui was a cause of concern for all of us. However, ADB Chief Economist Naved Hasan disagreed with a questioner on duration of resumption of gas from Sui field.
The questioner had referred to a statement wherein he quoted some experts as saying that resumption of gas was matter of months.
Naved clarified his bank's position on the issue, saying that the ADB was convinced that restoration of gas from Sui was a matter of days and not months.
Naved said that agricultural reforms do not rule out the possibility of subsidies for farm sector. However, the reforms abstain the authorities from using coercive measures such as inter-provincial movement of wheat as was done by the Punjab government this time. He hoped that Punjab would refrain from repetition of such happenings in future.
His understanding was that the Punjab government's ban on wheat movement was now story of the past and all the provinces were free to transport the commodity to meet their needs.