KABUL (Pajhwok): Leading economy experts have expressed optimism about the electricity transfer agreement CASA-1000 signed between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Sunday.
The Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project, known as CASA-1000, is aimed at transferring 1300 mega watt of electricity from the central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan via Tajikistan to Afghanistan and onwards to Pakistan. Afghanistan is set to receive 300 MW while Pakistani would get a bulk of 1000 MW.
Both the countries signed a deal in the US capital Washington on electricity transit fees.
In the eyes of HameedullahFarooqui, an economy expert associated with the Kabul University, the project would not only develop the economy here but would also contribute to peace and stability. He said mutual economic benefits would halt the neighboring countries to cause security problems in each other’s country.
I wish regional countries sign more and more such projects, he said.
According to the deal, Afghanistan would earn 1.25 cents per MW of electricity passing through its territory to Pakistan. To make it work, Afghanistan would get $ 316.5 million grant from International Monitory Fund (IMF) that would be utilized to erect a 560 kilometer wide power supply network passing through its northern and eastern provinces to neighboring Pakistan.
Prof. SaifuddinSehon, lecturer at the Kabul University, believed the project was beneficial for all three countries. Pakistan is blamed for making troubles in Afghanistan but with such projects it is important for them (Pakistanis) to have peace in Afghanistan, he stated.
