The Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources has directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to speed up work on the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project and complete it within the stipulated period of time.
The meeting was held at the Parliament House on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Yousaf. Senators Sabir Baloch, M Hamza, Jehangir Badar, Rozi Khan Kakar and Petroleum Secretary Abid Saeed attended the meeting.
The committee recommended starting construction of power generation units in Gwadar and other suburban areas to utilise gas to be obtained form the project for the energy sector.
It said efforts should be made to bring Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline through Iran excluding Afghanistan.
The petroleum secretary assured the attendees that the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline would be completed by December 2013.
“Iran has completed 40 percent of the project by laying down 250 km of pipeline to its city Kabad, while the route survey and feasibility report has been completed on the Pakistani side. The documents of the projects will be presented to the new government and after its approval, work on the project will be started,” he added.
The secretary said Inter State Company could not start the work on the project due to financial constraints, as the matter would now be resolved by the new government.
Inter State Gas Company MD told the committee that agreement for 700mmcfd was inked with Iran. It would also provide technical support and equipments for laying pipeline in Pakistan’s territory.
“The MoU has also been signed between Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and India. TAPI project would be completed by all four governments together in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank,” he added.
He said Pakistan would not bear any extra expenditure on the project, as it would give the same amount to Afghanistan, which it would receive from India as corridor tax.
