ISLAMABAD, June 27: Pakistan will sign an agreement for importing 1,000 megawatts of electricity from the Central Asian Republics (CARs) during a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) next month. So said federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf while talking to Kyrgyz Ambassador N. Aitmurzaev on Friday.

Mr Ashraf said the agreement would be signed by Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, besides some international financial institutions for import of 1,000MW and for developing trading arrangements between the Central and South Asian regions during the four-day meeting of the IGC to be held in Islamabad in the last week of July.

Pakistan, he said, was facing an energy crisis and measures were being taken by the government to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

The establishment of the link between the Central Asian Republics and South Asian countries would strengthen the economic ties and enhance relations.

The minister underlined the need for exploring possibilities for cooperation in other sectors as well, particularly tourism.

He said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan should exchange delegations to promote tourism between the two countries.

The two dignitaries discussed other matters of mutual interest too, especially investment possibilities in water, power, transportation and trade sectors.

He said that Kyrgyzstan had great potential in the field of energy and would provide every possible assistance and technical cooperation in this regard.

Ambassador of North Korea Ri Yong Hwan also called on the minister and discussed the possibilities of mutual cooperation in the power sector.

Mr Hwan said his country had great experience in hydel and thermal power generation. He said he had offered his country’s assistance in this sector.