Private Iranian Firm May Lay Gas Pipeline Inside Pakistan

A private Iranian firm, Tadbir Energy, is expected to take a direct contract for laying a pipeline in Pakistan under the Iran-Pakistan gas supply project.

Pakistani daily the Express Tribune reported that Tadbir Energy faces no sanctions from any foreign government and is controlled by the Imam Khomeini Foundation, one of Iran’s largest charitable groups.

The report also said that the two countries have drawn up a plan to finance the gas pipeline on Pakistan’s side without the need of Islamabad transferring funds to Tehran.

“Pakistan will not pay any money to the company, instead the Iranian government will pay $500 million directly to the firm for the construction of the pipeline,” a source elaborated.

The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, projected to cost $1.2-1.5 billion, would enable the export of 21.5 million cubic meters of Iranian natural gas to Pakistan on a daily basis. 

Iran has already constructed more than 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its soil.