President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a decree on establishment of a working commission to co-ordinate the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, the Turkmen state news agency reported Tuesday. The document was signed in order to improve the efficiency of implementation of projects of TAPI gas pipeline, as well as transport corridors and energy bridges along the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan route, and coordinate work.

Turkmenistan started to construct TAPI section in December 2015. The foundation laying ceremony for the Afghan section of the TAPI gas pipeline is planned to be held in the second half of February 2018. Earlier, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Japanese government expressed their interest in financing TAPI. The Islamic Development Bank has already allocated a loan worth $700 million for Turkmenistan to construct its TAPI section.

Copyright Independent News Pakistan, 2018