'Pakistan, Iran to finalise gas pipeline project'

Islamabad, Jan 7: Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mashallah Shakeri has said that Pakistan and Iran are set to finalise an agreement on a multi-billion gas pipeline project by January 25 this year.

Shakeri said, “The Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project is one of the most important economic projects in the region, which will bring extensive benefits for the two countries." “The measures taken by Pakistan and Iran showed the two countries" firm will for executing the project," he added. While talking about the economic relations, he said the two countries were enhancing their economic relations. They had increased their target of the volume of commercial exchanges to 1 billion dollar in one year.

He hoped that the official trade volume — which now stands at 650 million dollar — would soon reach the newly set target.

He said his country was cooperating with international groups, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, on its nuclear programme, by going “even beyond its legal obligations".

He further said that his country was cooperating with international groups, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, on its nuclear programme, by going “even beyond its legal obligations".

He hoped that India would also join the project and the project would be pursued trilaterally.

ANI