International

Pak. reiterates support to gas pipeline project
By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 21. Pakistan today reiterated its full support to the Iran-India gas pipeline project to India.

At a meeting with the Iranian Minister for Petroleum, Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, on Thursday directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to take all steps to facilitate the feasibility study and export of motor gasoline in coordination with the Iranian Petroleum Ministry.

The Minister arrived here today to discuss among other things the proposed multi-billion dollar 1,650 km-long Iran-India gas pipeline project to be laid through Pakistan. The project has been hanging fire for several years in view of India's reservations about the feasibility of the pipeline passing through the territory of Pakistan given the history of hostilities between the two countries.

Gen. Musharraf and several other functionaries in his Government have repeatedly assured the Government of India about the safety of the project but New Delhi continues to entertain doubts.

A few months ago, Iran set up separate joint committees with India and Pakistan to study various options related to the project. Some of the options under consideration include involvement of international consortium of firms and laying the pipeline through sea route.

Pakistan is keen on the project as it would bring enormous economic benefits to the country besides providing it an assured supply of gas. Estimated to cost about four billion dollars, the project also came in for discussions when the Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Karazi, visited Islamabad in December last.

Besides the gas pipeline project, Mr. Zanjaneh was scheduled to discuss other important bilateral projects such as the $ 35-million Pakistan-Iran Oil Refinery, export of motor gasoline to Iran and import of high speed diesel (HSD) from Iran, Petroleum Ministry officials said here.

During the meeting, the Iranian delegation took keen interest to pursue the proposed gas pipeline project and the commencing of a pre-feasibility study of the overland route. Gen. Musharraf told the visiting Minister that his Government placed great emphasis on the oil and gas sector as a vital component of its economic revival plan. Pakistan looked forward to enhanced cooperation with Iran in all sectors, particularly oil and gas, he said.

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