Iranian oil minister asks Pakistan to expedite IP gas pipeline

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Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Ali Majedi called on Islamabad to expedite accomplishment of the 700-kilometer-long Pakistani side of the gas pipeline with Iran.

“Iran is waiting for Pakistan’s practical measures to complete the IP gas pipeline,” Majedi said.

He urged the Pakistani officials to try to remove the obstacles as promised before, and said, “It will certainly be a step forward.” Pakistan desperately needs to import natural gas from Iran to resolve its load shedding challenge.

Iran has already built its 900-kilometer share of the pipeline on its own soil and is waiting for the 700-kilometer Pakistani side of the pipeline to be built.

Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement over the construction of the gas pipeline in 1995. Later, Iran made a proposal to extend the pipeline from Pakistan into India. In February 1999, an accord between Iran and India was signed. But due to the US pressure, India withdrew from the project in 2009.