Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Mashallah Shakeri, said work on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project is in progress. Iran has completed work on its side.

In an exclusive interview with Pakistan Observer he said, there are unlimited possibilities of expanding bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and his country.
“Very few neighboring countries can boast of such immense scope for cooperation as Pakistan and Iran,” Shakeri observed.
The ambassador said, the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project is a mega project and symbol of growing cooperation between the two countries. “The project was conceived in 1990’s among Iran, Pakistan and India and named as IPI Gas Pipeline Project. It was finalized in 2008 when legal formalities were completed between Pakistan and Iran. “India has opted not to join the project at this stage but there is provision in the project for India to join at some later stage”.
Iran is building 1,100 km long 56 inch diameter gas pipeline from its South Pars gas field to Pakistan-Iran border in Baluchestan. Iran is awaiting completion of the Project on Pakistan- side so that Tehran undertakes supply of gas. Iran will supply 30 million cubic meter gas to Pakistan on daily basis.
“If Pakistan also lays 56 inch “diameter gas pipeline, Iran would be in a position to double its gas supply at some desired stage”, the ambassador said. He said Pakistan will not only overcome its energy deficit but will also meet its growing gas demand from the gas pipeline project. India will also meet its demand to a great extent if and when New Delhi would join the project.
The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project is likely to be functional in around two years time. For Iran it will cost 2 billion dollars while Pakistan will spend 1.5 billion dollars to build its side of the project.
Tehran is already providing 40 megawatt electricity to Pakistani area on Iran’s border. Iran is committed to meeting electricity needs of Pakistan’s newly built seaport of Gawadar and in the first instance will provide 100 megawatt. There is a project to provide 1000 megawatt of electricity to Pakistan. Iran is ready to supply even 2000 megawatt of electricity to Pakistan.
There are other vast areas where Pakistan and Iran can promote ‘brilliant’ cooperation. There are bright chances of setting up joint ventures in the field of textiles, dairy farming and horticulture. “Iran wants to meet all its textile needs from Pakistani exports, he said.
The Iranian ambassador said, Iranian experts are most willing to help Pakistan in promoting its agro processing industry. Private sector of the two countries can join hands in setting up fruit processing plants on a large scale. Pakistan can earn billions of dollars in foreign exchange through exports of processed food and fruit items as well as vegetables and flowers.
Ambassador Shakeri said, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey being pioneers of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) are destined to play key role in promoting regional cooperation and development of the whole region. In this regard, he stressed the need for accelerating Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Railway Project.
(Source: Pakistan Observer)