IP gas pipeline project: Pakistan, Iran agree to expedite talks

Agreement reached in meeting between Sartaj Aziz and Iranian FM in Tehran.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Iran have decided to speed up discussions on the multibillion-dollar gas pipeline, the Foreign Office announced on Tuesday.

The agreement to expedite discussion on the stalled Iran-Pakistan project was reached during a meeting between the prime minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Muhammad Javad Zarif in Tehran, according to an official statement.

Aziz is currently in the Iranian capital to attend a meeting of the Council of Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO). The announcement comes days after Iran and the Western powers reached an understanding on its controversial nuclear programme.

The landmark deal renewed hopes in Islamabad to pursue the project, which has been facing an uncertain future due to threat of US sanctions.

Following talks in Tehran, the two diplomats agreed that comprehensive technical commercial proposals on the IP gas pipeline would be discussed between Inter-State Gas System Ltd of Pakistan and the Iranian nominated company – Tadbir Energy Gaspar Iranian Co. in the first week of December. This will be followed by ministerial-level discussions, the statement added.

The statement also said that the two ministers reviewed in detail the bilateral cooperation, regional and global issues. Discussing various areas of cooperation between the two countries‚ both sides emphasised the need to focus on bilateral economic relations.

Similarly, the two sides also agreed to hold the next round of Joint Ministerial Commission in Tehran early next year.

Meanwhile, addressing the ECO ministerial meeting, Aziz reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the aims and objectives of the organisation.

Aziz remarked that ECO had a solid program of cooperation and a forward looking agenda. He said ECO has made reasonable progress and needed to show more proactive approach so that the benefits directly affect the lives of the people of the region.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2013.