The Government of Balochistan has agreed to give land for the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project. Official sources said on Tuesday that Federal Petroleum Secretary Ejaz Chaudhry called on Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani. The chief minister told him about his government’s decision to allocate land in Gwadar and Lasbella districts for laying the gas pipeline through Balochistan. The pipeline will provide natural gas to the areas along its route, besides creating chances to install new gas-run power plants in the province. Raisani, however, demanded that the contract to lay the pipeline in Balochistan be given to local contractors in order to boost the local economy. He emphasised the need to strengthen relations with Iran, saying other regional countries would take benefit if Pakistan did not improve its ties with Iran. During the meeting, the two decided that the Gwadar Inter-Estate Gas Company Limited would register the contractors in this regard, while Gwadar Industrial area would also be provided natural gas from the gas pipeline.
