Islamabad, Mar 29: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offered to provide Pakistan 5,000 MW of electricity during a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in Seoul, according to a Pakistani media report on Wednesday.
Singh made the offer during a brief interaction with Gilani in the South Korean capital, The News daily quoted its sources as saying in a report on its website. The electricity could help meet Pakistan's energy requirements on an urgent basis and “could be transmitted through Punjab without much delay”, the report said.
The Indian Prime Minister took keen interest in Pakistan's economic difficulties and Gilani thanked Singh for the offer, the daily quoted its sources as saying. Gilani told Singh that “Islamabad would reply to New Delhi through proper channels soon”. There was no official word on the development from the governments of India and Pakistan.
During the meeting in Seoul, Singh reportedly recalled his last meeting with Gilani in the Maldives, where he had described the Pakistani premier as a “man of peace”. Singh said the talks process between the two countries is proceeding at a satisfactory pace and could be accelerated if required, the report.
Gilani expressed similar views and told Singh that “their governments should be remembered for establishing enduring peace in the region and resolving disputes which have made progress and development of the region their hostage”, the report said.
Following the resumption of their peace process last year after a gap of two years in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the two countries set up special groups of officials to discuss trade in petroleum products and electricity.
Singh made the offer during a brief interaction with Gilani in the South Korean capital, The News daily quoted its sources as saying in a report on its website. The electricity could help meet Pakistan's energy requirements on an urgent basis and “could be transmitted through Punjab without much delay”, the report said.
The Indian Prime Minister took keen interest in Pakistan's economic difficulties and Gilani thanked Singh for the offer, the daily quoted its sources as saying. Gilani told Singh that “Islamabad would reply to New Delhi through proper channels soon”. There was no official word on the development from the governments of India and Pakistan.
During the meeting in Seoul, Singh reportedly recalled his last meeting with Gilani in the Maldives, where he had described the Pakistani premier as a “man of peace”. Singh said the talks process between the two countries is proceeding at a satisfactory pace and could be accelerated if required, the report.
Gilani expressed similar views and told Singh that “their governments should be remembered for establishing enduring peace in the region and resolving disputes which have made progress and development of the region their hostage”, the report said.
Following the resumption of their peace process last year after a gap of two years in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the two countries set up special groups of officials to discuss trade in petroleum products and electricity.
