Pak-Iran to sign gas pipeline deal next week

Islamabad, Jan.21 (ANI): Pakistan and Iran have resolved all issues concerning the long pending gas pipeline project and both the countries are likely to sign a deal soon.

Talking to media persons, Pakistan Petroleum Minister Naveed Qamar said that Pak-Iran gas pipeline project has been finalised, and an accord is likely to be inked in this regard next week.

Iran boasts of having world's second-largest gas reserves after Russia but poor management, politics and construction delays are blocking it from becoming a major exporter.

India was also a part of the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline, but walked out of the 2,775 km pipeline project mainly due to the hefty transit fee demanded by Islamabad.

The IPI project was conceived in 1995 and after almost 13 years India finally decided to quit the project in 2008. (ANI)