New pipeline project to create jobs in Afghanistan

A pipeline project between Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India will help to reduce poverty and create jobs in Afghanistan.

The 1,814 km long pipeline, which is expected to be complete by 2020, will provide Afghanistan with 0.5-1.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year over the next 30 years. This will help to secure Afghanistan’s energy needs, and will bring in 500 million USD to the country from transit duties in addition to creating new job opportunities.

A major part of the pipeline will pass through southwestern Afghanistan, a Taliban strong-hold. However, there are indications that security will not be an issue as a Taliban spokesman has assured that the pipeline will be protected because of its significance to Afghanistan.

A ground-breaking ceremony for the project was held in Herat at the end of last month. To mark the occasion, a large number of citizens from Herat and the eastern provinces took to the streets to celebrate the project.

“This project can help in bringing security and social welfare,” Majla Hakak, a resident of Herat said to Tolo News.
Herat citizens also said that the project is a big step in the development of Afghanistan’s economy and that they will fully support its implementation.

“This big economic project is a unique project in Afghanistan’s history,” Nisar Haris, head of Herat People’s Association said.
Citizens say they hope the project will bring more employment opportunity and improve Afghanistan’s economy.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the completion of the Turkmenistan section of the pipeline project, President Ashraf Ghani said that Afghanistan, through the pipeline, will now connect South Asia and Central Asia after more than a century of separation.

“Afghanistan’s policy is the connectivity policy, not separation. South Asia will be connected with (the) Central Asia through Afghanistan after more than a century of separation,” Ghani said.

“We laid not only the foundation of a project, but also a vision to eradicate poverty and bring prosperity together,” President Ghani concluded.

Photo credit: Tolo News