LONDON, Feb 2: Pakistan has called upon the international community to encourage commercial sector to support multi-billion dollar gas and oil pipelines from Central Asia to Pakistan via Afghanistan.

According to a press release issued by Pakistan High Commission here on Thursday, additional secretary Foreign Office, Tariq Osman Hyder, made the call for oil and gas projects to Pakistan through Afghanistan at the International London Conference on Afghanistan.

Highlighting the importance of the projects, Mr Hyder told the London Conference that Asian Development Bank was supporting the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) gas pipeline project which would not only contribute to regional energy security, but to Afghanistan’s economic development in providing construction jobs and a steady transit revenue stream. The project could be paralleled with an oil pipeline from Central Asia as well, said Mr Hyder, adding, the international community should encourage the commercial sector to take an active interest in the projects.

Mr Hyder apprised the delegates of the London Conference about the importance of Gawadar Port and said the port would be another transit point for Afghanistan’s maritime commerce and for trade coming through Afghanistan from Central Asia.

Describing Pakistan’s developmental contribution and plans for Afghanistan’s reconstruction, Mr Hyder said Pakistan was meeting the requirements of 2.6 million Afghan refugees on its soil through its national budget as UNHCR contributed only $12 million. Mr Hyder supported the demand of the Afghan finance minister who urged the donor community to provide assistance directly to the Afghan government or to its programmes rather than through NGOs.