Pakistan keen to overcome energy shortage with Iran’s help: Gilani

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said Pakistan was keen to overcome the shortage of energy by importing gas and 1000MW electricity from Iran.
The prime minister was talking to Iranian Ambassador Mashallah Shakeri who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House to express gratitude for cooperation and courtesy extended to him during his stay in Pakistan.
The prime minister mentioned his heart to heart meetings with Iranian President Mehmoud Ahmadinejad, First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Speaker of the Majlis Ali Larijani and other leaders, which were focused on strengthening relations rooted in history.
The prime minister said he was looking forward to meet the Iranian president in the forthcoming trilateral meeting for which the officials of the three countries were working hard.
The meeting will help to strive for evolving the strategy for bringing peace and stability in the region by focusing on the issues which have direct bearings on peace and stability of the region.
The prime minister said going to Iran and visiting Gilan province was like going to his first home, because his ancestors belonged to the Iranian city before finally settling in Multan.
The government of Pakistan was pursuing the projects to meet the country’s immediate hard pressed requirement of energy, he added.
The project of TAPI gas pipeline will also help a great deal to meet the energy requirements of the countries of the region, he said.
The prime minister said the sea, rail and road links were vital to realise the full potential of trade between the two countries and beyond.
He said he was in favour of promoting relations among the countries of the region, which would ultimately lead to enhancement of trade among the countries so important for the socio-economic uplift of the people of the region.
Gilani said the opening of the Consulate General at Bandar Abbas will greatly facilitate Pakistani visitors because of its close proximity to Pakistan’s border.
The ambassador assured the prime minister that he would continue his eandeavours to promote good relations between the two countries while serving back home, because their close relationship held good future for the people of both countries. The prime minister asked the outgoing ambassador to convey his best wishes to the Iranian president, first vice president, speaker of the majlis and the foreign minister.