Iran, Pakistan seek ways to complete gas pipeline project

Iran and Pakistan are looking at ways to complete a long-delayed gas pipeline project between the two countries, Iran’s Consul General to Pakistan, Hassan Nourian, said on Monday. “We see political determination from Pakistan to complete the project,” he told media persons at Karachi Press Club on Monday.

The countries signed an agreement to construct the pipeline from Iran’s South Fars gas field to Balochistan and Sindh provinces in 2010, but work on Pakistan’s portion has been held up due to fears of US sanctions.

The 1,900 kilometre (1,180 mile) pipeline was meant to supply 750 million to one billion cubic feet per day of natural gas for 25 years to meet Pakistan’s rising energy needs. Nourian on Monday said the pipeline did not come under international restrictions, and that the two countries were discussing the issue. He did not answer a question about the potential for Iran to take legal action against Pakistan if it did not complete its side of the pipeline this year . —Reuters