It seems that the PML-N government has decided not to pursue the most significant project for the country at the moment, the Iran-Pakistan (IP) Gas pipeline, as no allocation has been made in this regard in the budgetary proposals made for the fiscal 2013-14.
It was being predicted since long that the PML-N government would abandon the IP gas pipeline project under immense pressure from the US and Saudi Arabia, who are opposing any future collaboration with the Iranian government.
The project had been effectively pursued by President Asif Ali Zardari though. On March 11, defying repeated warnings from the US, Zardari visited Cahbahar in Iran to inaugurate the project near Iran Shehr, an Iranian city bordering Pakistan, where President Mahmood Ahmedinejad was also present.
However, no allocation has been made in the four ongoing projects of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources in the budget 2013-14. Rs 50 million had been allocated for the four ongoing schemes but not a single penny has been kept for the IP gas pipeline.
Moreover, the Planning and Development ministry has also not allocated any amount for the IP gas pipeline project.
Though Rs 125,658.646 million has been earmarked for 12 ongoing and six new schemes, the IP gas pipeline project is not included.