(Business Recorder) –The much-publicised $873 million Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) electricity import project to Pakistan is reportedly far from implementation, with the concerned countries focused on Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), instead of legally binding agreements.

The concept of this project, according to which 1000-1300 MW surplus electricity is to be imported from Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic, was initiated in 2006 when Pervez Musharraf was in power in Pakistan, but the progress since has been no more than 10 percent, despite passage of five years. One of the former key financiers, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is almost out of the picture. However, Washington, World Bank and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) are still interested in the project. The project is to be developed on the basis of its economic viability and sustainability for all parties.

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