Iran to deliver gas to Pakistan and India on their borders

Islamabad, May 23 : The meeting of trilateral Joint Working Group of Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project has decided to continue discussion on gas pricing while the three sides agreed that Iran will deliver the gas to Pakistan at Pakistan -Iran border and to India at Pakistan-India border.

Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary M S Srinivasan, Pakistani Petroleum Secretary Ahmad Waqar and Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Mohammad-Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian led their respective delegations at the talks.

Briefing mediapersons after the meeting along with Iranian and Indian delegation heads, Mr Waqar said the talks were held in a friendly atmosphere and that they had a frank and productive discussion on a number of technical, financial, legal and commercial issues relating to the 2,670 km long pipeline.

He said the project structure and gas pricing figured prominently at the meeting.

He said it had been agreed that gas pricing mechanism required more deliberations and expressed the hope that an agreement would be reached on the issue in the next trilateral meeting which will be held in India in July.

He further added that the meeting agreed to appoint a project coordinator who will oversee the implementation of the project.

On a question about US pressure, Mr Waqar said Pakistan has made it clear that the project will be considered solely keeping in view the national interest. Mr Srinivasan said there was no pressure from any quarters.

Mr Wager said Pakistan's economy is growing and to sustain six to eight per cent growth rate, we need energy and Iran is one of the supplies of energy.

He said they are also pursuing Turkmenistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.

UNI