The Ministry of Economy, in collaboration with Khatam al-Nabieen ( sallallahu alaihi wasallam) University, organized an academic seminar in Kabul titled “The Economic Impact of the TAPI Project on Afghanistan’s Economy.”
The event’s opening session featured a keynote address by Dr. Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy for Professional Affairs. He emphasized that the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline is a crucial infrastructure project that will link Central Asia with South Asia and play a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s economic growth and development, according to Bakhtar News Agency.
Nazari highlighted the strategic economic significance of the TAPI project, noting its potential to reduce poverty, create employment, attract investment, increase national revenue, and enhance Afghanistan’s self-sufficiency. He further stated that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) is committed to both national development initiatives and major regional projects such as TAPI, CASA-1000, and the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan transit route, all of which position Afghanistan as a key regional corridor and reinforce its geopolitical importance.
Speaking on the progress of TAPI, Nazari confirmed that construction work within Afghanistan is advancing steadily, with notable developments also observed in CASA-1000 and other regional infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, Dr. Barat Ali Naqvi, a senior academic from Khatam al-Nabieen University, described TAPI as both a national and regional initiative. He explained that the pipeline, spanning five Afghan provinces, will facilitate the transport of Turkmenistan’s gas to Pakistan and India. Naqvi emphasized the importance of strategic planning by the Islamic Emirate and the Ministry of Economy, urging them to align the project’s implementation with Afghanistan’s economic needs, resource potential, and long-term development goals.
Seminar participants engaged in in-depth discussions, offering expert insights and recommendations on maximizing the project’s economic benefits. They stressed the importance of holding such academic forums to enhance understanding of Afghanistan’s economic future and promote self-reliance.
The practical implementation of the TAPI project began approximately seven months ago following high-level agreements between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. As of now, over 10 kilometers of pipeline have been laid within Afghanistan’s territory.
The TAPI pipeline extends over 1,800 kilometers, transporting natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India. The total project cost is estimated at $22.5 billion, with Afghanistan expected to earn $500 million annually in transit fees.
Once operational, the pipeline will have an annual capacity of 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, with 5 bcm allocated for Afghanistan and 14.14 bcm each for Pakistan and India.
