Iranian gas to bring economic stability to Pakistan

Chairman of the Pakistani Parliamentary Committee has said that Iran-Pakistan\'s multi-billion dollar gas pipeline project would bring economic stability to Pakistan. Talking to IRNA Khurram Dastgir Khan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce said that the project should be implemented in time to meet the fast growing energy demands. Twenty million cubic meters gas will be imported per day from Iran under the IP gas pipeline project that will cost $7.5 billion. Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister, Dr Asim Hussain, earlier had said that the project would be completed by end of 2013, before the scheduled time. He said that feasibility of the project was being prepared and tenders for compressors and pipes would be floated in a month. Dr Asim Hussain said that the pipeline would be laid along the coastal highway and two compressor stations would also be set up. Khurram Dastgir Khan expressing his views said this project should be unconditional and purely based on Pakistan’s energy demands. “This is a highly significant project that would bring economic stability in Pakistan”, he said. The lawmaker was of the view that some countries do not want this project to be completed but Pakistan must go forward with the project despite any pressure. “Iran is our neighbor and has agreed to help us in catering our energy requirements”, the politician added. Khurram Dastgir Khan said the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project should be completed as early as possible so that Pakistan could overcome its energy crises. The Parliamentarian opined Pakistan’s economy desperately needs natural gas and ‘the import of natural gas from Iran should be our soul objective’. “This project is in the interest of Pakistan”, the political leader maintained. Iranian officials recently gave optimistic statements about completing the project at the earliest. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi had told Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in September that the Iranian part of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline would be completed by the middle of next year while PM Gilani had also emphasised the early completion of the gas pipeline project.