Pakistani Lawmaker Stresses Early Completion Of IP Gas Pipeline

Islamabad, Nov 3, IRNA – A Pakistani lawmaker on Sunday urged the government to complete multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project at the earliest to overcome energy crisis in the country. Talking to IRNA, Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani, member of the National Assembly belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said that Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project is necessary to further strengthen bilateral ties. “Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline accord must be completed and no external pressure should be tolerated in this regard,” said the former minister. He cautioned the government of Pakistan about the consequences of scrapping the project. “The government must complete the project before December 2014,” he said. “Our party has pursued the project seriously and wants to see timely completion of the pipeline,” said the parliamentarian. As per the Gas Sales Purchase Agreement (GSPA), formally signed by former Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and then Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari in April 2013, the pipeline will start from an onshore gas processing facility at Assaluyeh in Iran, traversing a distance of 1,150 kilometers up to the Pak-Iran border, which will be built and operated by Iran. Jakhrani said that the government should continue work on the pipeline and maintained that the IP project is an easy way to overcome energy woes. “Iran is our brotherly country and has always helped Pakistan,” he added. The MP reiterated that Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project is necessary for further expansion of all-out bilateral ties. He said certain regional countries as well as the US are trying to prevent Pakistan from pursuing the most important energy project. “This is lifeline project for Pakistan and should be completed at all costs,” noted the diplomat./end