New Pakistan Gov't Will Complete IP Pipeline
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Pakistan’s charge d'affaires in Iran has reaffirmed the resolve of the new Pakistani government to complete the joint multi-billion-dollar pipeline project between Tehran and Islamabad.
“The new government of Pakistan is determined to complete the gas pipeline from Iran,” Soheil Seddiqi said, Press TV reported.
“Implementation of the gas pipeline project is related to Pakistan’s national interests and [Islamabad] is committed to its national interests, regardless of the government which runs the country,” he added.
On July 30, Mamnoon Hussain, backed by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N party, was elected as Pakistan’s 12th president.
Seddiqi pointed to Pakistan’s acute energy needs and noted that Islamabad will complete the Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline despite external pressures and sanctions.
In his visit to Iran on August 3, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari stressed that Islamabad respects all agreements signed between Iran and Pakistan, including the IP pipeline.
The 2,000-kilometer IP pipeline, which is projected to cost 1.2 to 1.5 billion dollars, would enable the export of 21.5 million cubic meters of Iranian natural gas per day to Pakistan.
Iran has already constructed more than 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its territory.
The US has threatened Pakistan with sanctions if Islamabad implements the deal with Iran. However, Pakistan has, on several occasions, stressed that it will pursue the gas pipeline project.
