An Iranian-Pakistani consortium will start work next week on a much delayed $7.5 billion gas pipeline from Pakistan to Iran that has aroused strong US opposition, Pakistani officials said Friday.
An Iranian-Pakistan consortium to start working on the 7.5 billion dollar gas-pipeline from Iran to Pakistan next week, Pakistani officials said on Friday.
The much delayed project date was announced after President Asif Ali Zardari’s talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and renowned Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The leaders encouraged that the project should be pursued from next week.
A senior Pakistani official said that on March 11, the project will be pressed ahead on the Pakistani side of the border while the presidents of both countries would be present on the occasion.
The ceremony would jumpstart work by an Iranian-Pakistani consortium on the 780 kilometres (km) pipeline that is allotted on the Pakistani side of the border which was estimated to cost 1.5 billion dollars, he added.
Another official confirmed March 11 as the ensuing date for the project.
Pakistan had to face continual difficulties with regards to funding and political support for the project. The United States’ opposition to the project and the threat of possible sanctions due to Iran’s controversial nuclear activities came in the way while the pipeline on the Iranian side has almost been completed.
The US said it would provide Pakistan with alternate means to overcome its energy crisis and to avoid sanctions.
US State Department Deputy Acting Spokesman Patrick Ventrell said on Wednesday that it was in Pakistan’s best interests to avoid any sanctionable activity and that the US would provide Pakistan with ways to meet their energy requirements.
Pakistan has decided to pursue the gas-pipeline project as it is vital towards overcoming debilitating blackouts and suffocated industry.