Iran, Pakistan to sign gas pipeline deal ‘next week’

Pakistani Federal Minister for Petroleum Naveed Qamar has declared that Iran and Pakistan have finalized an agreement to build a natural gas pipeline.

Qamar said the federal government is taking serious measures to combat the current energy crisis in the country.

He noted that the two countries will sign an accord on the pipeline next week, Dawn newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The Pakistani minister’s remarks come as the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke had earlier urged Islamabad to avoid the deal with Iran.

Holbrooke said the US would help Pakistan secure liquefied natural gas supplies, should it abandon the planned gas deal with Iran.