Pakistan and Iran have agreed on commencing construction work on gas pipeline project forthwith despite US opposition. Iran will provide financial assistance to the tune of 500 million dollars in two installments and the agreement in this regard will be signed during President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Iran on today.
Sources said Dr Asim Hussain, Advisor on Petroleum to the Prime Minister, during his recent trip to Iran held an important meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In this meeting all the pros and cons of the project were discussed and parameters were settled.
It was decided that Iranian company in collaboration with Frontier Works Organization (FWO) would start the work of laying the gas pipeline project. Both the Iranian company and FWO will ink contract award agreement on the occasion. Documentation has been completed on this count.
Announcement to awarding contract will also be made on the occasion of President Zardari’s visit. Following the execution of this landmark agreement work on laying pipelines would start soon.
Sources said a Russian company and companies of other countries were eager to obtain this contract but it is being awarded to an Iranian company which has completed the work of laying gas pipeline inside Iranian territory on Iranian borders.
Sources added US is vehemently opposing this project and US authorities have given clear message to Pakistan to renounce this project. US has also stopped international donor agencies including World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other multilateral monetary agencies from extending financial grant to Pakistan for this project. But government has brushed aside US pressure keeping in view its growing energy needs besides gearing up the pace of work on this project to ensure its early completion.
It may be recalled that this breakthrough was achieved during a separate meeting between Iranian president and President Asif Ali Zardari on the occasion of recently held D-8 summit conference in Pakistan.
IP dream on the brink of fruition
