US-Pak energy working group meet to discuss India-Pak energy

Top US and Pakistani officials are meeting here during which they are expected to discuss the Pakistan-India energy in addition to the contentious Iran-Pakistan pipeline project.
As part of the recent decision by US President Barack Obama and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to enhance their bilateral co-operation in energy sector, top officials from the two countries met here today to discuss issues to address the Pak energy crisis and the regional integration of energy infrastructure.
The two sides during the fifth Energy Working Group meeting among other things are expected to discuss the Pakistan-India energy co-operation and Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline projects for import of gas in addition to the contentious Iran-Pakistan pipeline, to which the US is opposed to.

The meeting was co-hosted by Carlos Pascual, the US Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, Pakistani Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Abbasi and Water and Minister of Power Khawaja Asif and US Ambassador in Islamabad Richard Olson.
"The United States and Pakistan have worked closely and on a sustained basis to better develop and diversify Pakistan's energy sector, a key priority of the Pakistani government and people," the State Department said.
"The United States has supported increased energy generation, improved distribution, management, revenue collection, and policy reform," it said.

"Since October 2009, the United States has helped add 1,000 megawatts of capacity to Pakistan's grid - enough to supply electricity for more than 16 million people," it said before the meeting.

Officials from the two countries are also expected to discuss on exploring the alternate sources of energy and helping Pakistan develop its capabilities in those fields including solar energy.
Pakistan is seeking technological cooperation from the US to tab its huge reserves of shale gas, which are estimated to be one of the biggest in the world. The Pakistani delegation would also travel to Houston as part of its US trip.