The Iranian and Pakistani heads of state discussed natural gas issues on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, Iran’s Oil Ministry said.
Pakistan is eager to secure more natural gas from its Asian partners to relieve a lingering energy crisis in the country. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif discussed the issue on the sidelines of the annual UN session late Tuesday, the Iranian Oil Ministry’s news website, Shana, reports.
Shana reported pipeline construction is under way on both sides of the border. Pakistan could receive 750 million cubic feet of natural gas from Iran each day through the pipeline.
Rouhani and Nawaz stressed their countries’ willingness to strengthen bilateral relations and expressed hope for the settlement of regional issues. Both sides described terrorism as a serious regional scourge which should be fought against.
The prime minister congratulated Rouhani on his election as Iran’s president, calling for the enhancement of Tehran-Islamabad relations.
Pointing to the multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline, planned to carry natural gas from Iran to its eastern neighbour, Nawaz said he would send Pakistani Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to Tehran for talks in this respect.
Nawaz also invited President Rouhani to pay a visit to Pakistan.
Rouhani congratulated the prime minister on his election as Pakistan’s prime minister and accepted his invitation to visit the neighbouring country.