Iran, Pakistan Deny Gas Pipeline Project is Dead

Despite recent Pakistani media reports about abandonment of Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline, Sartaz Aziz, Advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs has been quoted as saying the project is still on.

Aziz said that Islamabad is determined to complete its share of a multi-billion-dollar pipeline project, according to Pakistan’s Dunya news.

On Sunday, Iran’s oil ministry announced that a Pakistani energy delegation is slated to pay a visit to Iran in the near future to discuss expediting the implementation of the IP pipeline, Fars News reported.

Iran has already built its 900-kilometer share of the pipeline on its own soil and is waiting for the 700-kilometer Pakistani side of the pipeline to be built. On June 5, 2009 Inter State Gas System of Pakistan and National Iranian Oil Company signed an agreement, which envisaged the first flow of gas to Pakistan to commence by December 31, 2014.

Pakistan says lack of funds along with western sanction on Iran has led to the delay as no company is willing to work on the project.