TT On-The-Go
TT Feed
| Pakistan’s new govt. won’t cancel IP gas pipeline project |
|
 |
 |
 |
Font Size 
.jpg) Pakistan’s new government says it will continue the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, despite mounting pressure from the United States.
According to the energy strategy unveiled by the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the project will be completed on time.
Under the plan, the government plans to appoint a third party inspection agency for the Iran-Pakistan project next month. It has also planned to procure equipment and material to begin construction this year.
The deal for the construction of the pipeline was originally signed by Pakistan’s former ruling party led by President Asif Ali Zardari.
However, the future of the multibillion dollar project has been in doubt ever since the change of administration in Islamabad.
Fears have been expressed due to the close association of Pakistan’s current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with the Saudis.
It is believed that Saudi Arabia previously pushed Pakistan on behalf of the United States to cancel the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
Under the agreement signed earlier this year, Pakistan will start importing natural gas from Iran by December 2014.
Pakistan government’s latest energy plan has dismissed speculations that the new administration might not pursue Iran gas pipeline project. Experts say import of natural gas from Iran will help address Pakistan’s longstanding energy problems.
Meanwhile the Pakistan Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the PML-N government would honor the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline deal as the agreement was signed between two sovereign countries. Without mentioning the name of the PPP government, the minister said that Pakistan had signed the deal, so the PML-N government would honor it.
(Source: Agencies)
  Socialize this Subscribe to our RSS feed to stay in touch and receive all of TT updates right in your feed reader
|