ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Chaudhry Nouraiz Shakoor has said that regardless of whether India joins the project or not Pakistan will press ahead with the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) gas pipeline project.

The minister said the project would bring multi-dimensional socio-economic benefits to the region.

He expressed these views while talking to the visiting Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation headed by Najeeb Jung which called on him here on Tuesday.

During the meeting, they discussed matters pertaining to the TAP project.

The ADB delegation also updated the minister on the progress thus far made in respect of the project, and hoped that its feasibility study would be ready by December this year.

Nouraiz Shakoor said Pakistan was looking forward to the next steering committee meeting on TAP in Islamabad in the near future which would provide opportunities to the oil ministers of the member countries to formulate measures for promoting interaction in the oil and gas sector.

The minister recalled that India had already been invited to become part of the project as it would help the gas-starved country to meet its growing demand.

He was of the opinion that the proposed TAP project, besides bringing economic benefits, would also help promote peace in the region.—APP