Minister Stresses Importance of Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project for Islamabad

The pipeline project to transfer Iran’s gas to Pakistan is essential to solve Islamabad’s energy crisis and it will develop different industries in the country, Pakistan’s information and broadcasting minister said.

Firdous Ashiq Awan reiterated that the project provides the sole window of opportunity for his country to solve its energy shortage.

The pipeline project to transfer Iran’s gas to Pakistan is essential to resolve Islamabad’s energy crisis and it will play a leading role in developing industries and creating jobs for generations to come, Awan said on Monday.

She added that Pakistan would make utmost efforts to implement the vital project and resist against any foreign pressure regarding the issue.

The minister emphasized that Islamabad has expressed its full support for the implementation of the IP project.

The 2700-kilometer long pipeline was to supply gas for Pakistan and India which are suffering a lack of energy sources, but India has evaded talks. Last year Iran and Pakistan declared they would finalize the agreement bilaterally if India continued to be absent in the meetings.

According to the project proposal, the pipeline will begin from Iran’s Assalouyeh Energy Zone in the south and stretch over 1,100 km through Iran. In Pakistan, it will pass through Baluchistan and Sindh but officials now say the route may be changed if China agrees to the project.

The gas will be supplied from the South Pars field. The initial capacity of the pipeline will be 22 billion cubic meters of natural gas per annum, which is expected to be later raised to 55 billion cubic meters. It is expected to cost $7.4 billion.