ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 6 (UPI) -- The United States has said it is prepared to offer financial and technical support to Pakistan to solve its energy problems.
"The next three years are going to be very difficult and challenging for Pakistan to resolve its energy crisis for which we are ready to offer our financial and technical support," said Gordon Weynand, an energy expert with the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The comments, made in Islamabad, were reported Friday by the Dawn newspaper.
Pakistan is looking at a number of options to meet its rapidly growing energy needs, including the controversial gas pipeline from Iran to India via its territory. The United States opposes that deal because of international scrutiny of Iran's nuclear program.
Pakistan is also looking to import gas and power from Central Asia. Weynand said Washington would help Pakistan import electricity from Tajikistan.
"Our mission is to put together economic growth strategy for Pakistan for the next five years and to see how energy fits into the Pakistani economy," he said.
