Iranian Consul General Hassan Darvishvand on Wednesday said that Iran-Pakistan gas project is to be completed at all costs by the end of 2014.
“One hundred and ten million cubic feet gas per day would be available to Pakistan under the project which would solve much of the electricity shortage and gas problems of the energy starved country,” he said while addressing a one-day seminar on Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project Agreement – New Era of Relationship. The seminar was organised by Department of Political Science University of Peshawar.
Hassan said that the pipeline originating from Faras province of Iran is extended over an area of 1,100 kilometres within Iran and only a mere 100 kilometre work is left on the Iranian side. Seven hundred and eighty kilometers of pipe would be laid within Pakistan under the project and feasibility of the same has started a month ago, he added.
The envoy said that the cost of the project on Pakistani side was around $1.5 billion, of which $500 million would be provided by Iran while the rest would be managed by the host country. He termed the project as a stabiliser for the region and lamented the announcement of India to withdraw from the project.
Hassan said originally the project was IPI (Iran, Pakistan and India) – spreading around an area of 2,700 kilometres with an estimated cost of $7 billion. He added the idea of IPI project was initially proposed by a Pakistani engineer in 1950 for promotion of regional economy and decrease in animosity among the bordering countries.
To a question about possible security threats and resistance from America and Western powers in completion of the project, he said, “Look Pakistan and Iran are potential economic powers with a population of 250 million people having the quest for economic revival and regional peace.” He added, “We must be mindful about the evil designs from the West and not let religious and sectarian divide appear in our societies because we have a strategic importance in the world and overcoming Illiteracy, economic disparity and unemployment are our major challenges.”
Iran and Pakistan have much in common like language, geography and literature, said Political Science Department Chairman Prof Dr AZ Hilali in his opening remarks. He said, “Even our enemies are the same reveals the fact that we must enhance cooperation to overcome the prevailing crisis in the region.”