Pakistan criticized for Iran project delay

The Pakistani political party Jamaat-e-Islami has criticized the government for delaying a gas pipeline project with Iran, Press TV reports.

It has been said Islamabad’s procrastination is due to pressure from Washington.

Hundreds of supporters of the party took to the streets of Lahore in protest against the government for neglecting the basic domestic needs of the people of Pakistan and succumbing to US pressure to delay the important Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

The party’s chief Siraj ul Haq said, “Our government does not realize the difficulties that the locals go through without gas and electricity.”

“The gas pipeline project could have become a major relief, but that also is being delayed due to the US pressure. The government should reject US intervention in Pakistan’s agreement with Iran.”

Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement over the construction of the gas pipeline in 1995.

Later, Iran made a proposal to extend the pipeline from Pakistan into India. In February 1999, an accord between Iran and India was signed. Nevertheless, India withdrew from the project in 2009 under US pressure.

Iran has already built its 900-kilometer share of the pipeline on its own soil and is waiting for the 700-kilometer Pakistani side of the pipeline to be built.

On February 27, an Iranian deputy oil minister cautioned Islamabad over falling behind schedule in fulfilling its obligations with regard to the project, saying it would be imprudent for Pakistan to link the failure to abide by its commitments to the sanctions imposed on Iran.