Deal on gas pipeline


Editorial June 15, 2010

At long last, after decades of dithering, it is here. Construction on the gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan has finally begun, with the $7 billion project expected to be complete by 2014. While there is still room for hiccups (there always is where the government of Pakistan is involved), one can now be reasonably assured that the project will reach its completion stage soon enough.

What started out initially as the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline – hence the moniker “peace pipeline” – was reduced to the Iran-Pakistan pipeline after India pulled out, ostensibly over a pricing dispute. That reason has always been somewhat suspect. India and Pakistan are both energy starved economies and Iran has the second largest gas reserves in the world. Given the proximity between the three countries, the economics of the project were rarely, if ever, in doubt. What held up the project for so long was politics and for that the government of Pakistan has ensured that its economy has paid a heavy price for its unwillingness to put the country’s economic interests foremost.

It was absolutely inexcusable that Pakistan should have a gas shortage when it has neighbourly ties with Iran, one of the most hydrocarbon-abundant nations in the world. Iran was willing, nay eager, to supply gas to Pakistan regardless of whether India came along on the pipeline or not. But Pakistani leaders, craven as they are to Washington’s whims, did not wish to anger the United States which had explicitly opposed the deal owing to its own efforts to isolate Iran because of their longstanding mutual animosity and Iran’s alleged nuclear programme.

The Americans may have their own strategic logic behind their actions and Pakistan should cooperate with its allies to the degree that it can. Yet when their interests come in direct conflict with ours, the government of Pakistan should make it abundantly clear that its economic interests are of vital importance. If the country had secured gas supplies from Iran earlier, there is a chance that the power crisis would not have been quite as severe.

According to the government’s own estimates, published in the Economic Survey 2009-2010, the country lost 2.2 per cent in GDP growth owing to the power crisis. That is approximately $3.5 billion in economic losses in a single year, not quite something that a developing economy can afford. When taking into consideration the fact that the losses were partly to appease a foreign power, the lack of growth stings even more.

The Indians, for their part, were unwilling to become part of the project largely due to their fears over the security of the pipeline. In addition to that there had also been some speculation that some segments of the Indian political spectrum were uncomfortable with the idea of having a vital energy supply route pass through Pakistan, fearing a sudden loss of supply owing to political reasons.

While there may be some grounds to those fears, the Indians should perhaps try to put a little more faith in expanding economic ties with Pakistan as a means of promoting peace. Pakistanis have already done so through the Indus Water Treaty, which places the control of Pakistan’s rivers in India's hands. While there have been troubles of late, the treaty has managed to last even through the three wars that have been fought by the two countries since it was signed in 1960.

For its part, Pakistan stands to gain tremendously from the pipeline regardless of whether India joins. For instance, one of the most rapidly growing industries in Pakistan is petrochemicals (fertilisers, plastics, chemicals, etc). The key raw ingredient for that industry is natural gas. Having ample, steady supplies from Iran will be a great boost to the industry and allow it to compete in the international market.

In short, while we are tempted to berate the government for having taken so long to get the project going, the occasion calls for congratulations all around. To quote the Farsi proverb: der ayad durust ayad.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 15th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Tabrez Durrani | 13 years ago | Reply US would never 'allow' Pakistan to actually materialize this deal. We will be bully-ed/blackmailed by US (koi nai baat hai kya?) very soon in one way or the other. Reason? Simple: US was attacked by muslim terrorists, who were from Saudi Arabia but hiding in Afghanistan, helped by terrorists from Pakistan, a muslim country with nuclear ability, which can always transfer tech to Iran, a muslim country that 'can' (like in another 100 years) be threat to Israel, a nice clean peaceloving country, which obviously has all the rights (and lefts) to attack Iran to 'defend' itself.
Sher Othman | 13 years ago | Reply The gas pipeline is a vital link for Pakistan. Specially taking into account the recent off-shore exploration for oil and gas in Pakistani waters which ended in failure and also taking into account the fact that Pakistan's total gas reserves with current rate and growth of consumption will run out by 2020, it becomes pertinent for the government to go full speed ahead in implementing the gas pipeline. Even the recent government economic survey by finance ministry has shown that natural gas is going to remain the most important energy component of Pakistan in this century. Besides reducing the pollution from cars and trucks to just under a quarter when used as a transport fuel, it is the standard cooking and heating energy in Pakistan. Also it is extensively used by all industries from power generation, cement manufacturing to fertiziler, insecticide, plastics, etc. The pipeline is going to be Pakistan's carotid and USA should be sidelined on this one since Americans have utterly failed to provide Pakistan's energy needs. Iran is a reliable friend which is independent and not subject to outside pressure, so Pakistan can rest assured over continuous and uninterrupted supply just like Turkey is already buying its gas from Iran. Since Pakistan already has a very developed gas distribution network almost all over the country, once the main Iran-Pakistan pipeline is laid the gas is going to be ready to use. One more suggestion for the pipeline would be the inclusion of China instead of India with the pipe to be extended over to Chinese border. Pakistan should really start to mediate between China and Iran and push hard for this extension as it would increase the strategic importance of Pakistan as well as earning foreign reserves in the form of transit fees which can be used to subsidize the imported gas eventually. Since Iran is now mired in its own political and strategic games with regard to United States, and also since China is very much closer to Pakistan than Iran in terms of friendship it is pertinent that Pakistan start the negotiation with China and pull them in on this project which is of benefiting nature to all parties.
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ