Fresh Round of Talks on Iran-Pakistan Pipeline in May

Iran and Pakistan will hold fresh round of talks on the much delayed gas pipeline project next month in Tehran.

"Islamabad seeks to accomplish the peace pipeline as soon as possible and is making its utmost efforts to this end," Pakistani oil minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said, reported Iran’s Fars News Agency.

The topic of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline was on top of the list during President Hassan Rouhani’s Pakistan visit last month. Stakeholders from both sides made positive noises about the project during his visit. Rouhani said that completion and launch of the pipeline to carry Iran's gas to Pakistan will be in the interests of both nations.

Chairman Pakistan's Board of Investment (BoI) and Minister of State Miftah Ismail said that Islamabad is keen to complete the project and in this regard, the government was engaged in negotiation with a Chinese company for building of a 200- kilometer Nawabshah to Gwadar gas pipeline.

About 250 million cubic feet gas would be imported from Iran during first year, while in the second year the import of gas would be enhanced to 500 million cubic feet while in the third year 750 million cubic feet gas would be imported.

Iran has already built 900 km length of the pipeline on its territory while Pakistan still has to start work on the pipeline that would traverse its territory.