The government has started devising strategies to avoid US sanctions after Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to Pakistan once again expressed strong reservations over the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and threatened to impose sanctions.
According to reports, the various options in this respect include involving private sector in the project and start fresh negotiations with Iran for reducing the price of the imported gas. An inter-ministerial meeting was called at the Foreign Office to take input of various ministries for avoiding US sanctions with regard to the gas pipeline project. The meeting decided in principle to start fresh negotiations with Iran for further reducing the prices of gas and in this regard the federal minister for petroleum will conduct a visit to Iran.
During the meeting Consultant Ahmer Bilal Soofi advised the government to complete the project with the help of the private sector. He said a bilateral agreement should be finalized with Iran in this regard.
The attorney general suggested that the service of an American law firm should be acquired in this regard.
However, the foreign secretary declared this project a risk and said Pakistan should avoid any such project which may invite sanctions.
According to documents, John Kerry was presented a non-paper during his visit to Pakistan in which immunity for the gas pipeline like Turkey and Armenia was sought. However, Kerry made it clear that the US will not make any concession with Pakistan on this project.
