KARACHI: Given that an enormous amount of gas is utilised in the production of fertiliser, I would propose that we investigate the feasibility of setting up fertiliser factories close to the Pakistan-Iran border because that could prove to be cost-effective.
We would need to analyse the implications of the UN embargo and any US-imposed reservations but given that the product is badly needed in Pakistan for food security and building the pipeline is costly, time-consuming and insecure, chances are that this could be an acceptable alternative.
Khalid Fareed Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2013.