No announcement by PM to continue Pak-Iran gas pipeline: Bilawal

Claims government caving to international pressure instead of putting Pakistan first

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for not making any announcement to continue the Pak-Iran gas pipeline initiated under former President Asif Ali Zardari.

The PPP chairman, in a tweet, said that despite Imran’s visit to Iran no announcement was made by PM Imran to continue President Zardari’s Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.

"Given our energy needs, ever-increasing price of gas and unequal load-shedding sad that govt also caving to international pressure instead of putting Pakistan first," the PPP chairman elaborated.

https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari/status/1120925239481966592



However, during PM Imran's meeting with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, both sides highlighted the necessity of extending cooperation in energy sector including export of electricity from Iran to Pakistan. The Pakistani side extended its appreciation to the government of Iran for continuing electricity exports to Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

In their joint press conference, Rouhani said that Iran was ready to meet Pakistan's oil and gas requirements and added that Iran has already taken measures to construct a pipeline near the Pakistani border.

Rouhani and Khan agreed that enhancing and cementing cooperation between Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province and Pakistan’s Balochistan province would contribute towards the improvement of the economic situation of local residents, and help in resolving border challenges and insecurities. This cooperation includes opening of new border crossings and border markets.

Considering the increase in the volume of trade between the two countries in 2018, the Iran president and PM Khan instructed relevant institutions and ministries to devise all required mechanisms for boosting monetary, financial and commercial activities to their full potential by utilising all available options.