Iran Gas Pipeline Project Not Abandoned, Says Pakistan

The Iran-Pakistan natural gas pipeline project has not been abandoned, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said on Friday.

Khan said that Pakistan will pursue it once international sanctions are removed that are hindering the plan, Express Tribune newspaper reported.

“A gas pipeline that is going to be laid from Gwadar to Nawabshah can be extended by 11 kilometres to Iran,” he said at an event in Islamabad.

The 700 km Gwadar to Nawabshah pipeline would be built by China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPP) on government to government basis. The $3 billion pipeline deal is expected to be formally signed during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping next month, the newspaper added.

Once complete, the pipeline will transport up to one billion cubic feet per day of regasified LNG. CPP is expected to finish the pipeline in two years. Pakistan hopes that the pipeline would also facilitate Iran-Pakistan pipeline project if international sanctions on Tehran go.