'If the people take ownership of the pipeline then no one can stop it'

President Zardari reiterates resolve to build Iran-Pakistan pipeline.

LAHORE: Days after a trip to the Iranian capital where President Asif Ali Zardari voiced his resolve on going ahead with the multi-billion dollar gas pipeline project despite warnings from the US, he reiterated the decision in the heart of Lahore, Express News reported.

At a candid dinner meeting with senior journalists and editors of print and broadcast media at his newly built Bilawal House in Lahore on Saturday night, Zardari said that he will take a contingent of Pakistan's journalists and cameras to the Iranian city of Chahbahar on March 11 to witness the inauguration ceremony of for the pipeline's construction. Asked about the mounting pressure from the US over the project, the President said Pakistan was a sovereign country and it was acting in its national interest.

“If the Pakistani people take ownership of the pipeline, then no one has the power to stop it.”

The President said that Pakistan did not want confrontation with anyone and firmly believes that negotiations and dialogue were the best tool to create greater understandings of the issues.

The President further recalled that the idea to develop the gas pipe line was first worked out in 1994 but was shelved by the next government.

Gwadar to be an economic hub

The President also talked about the transfer of Gwadar port's operation from Singapore to China and hoped that with this transfer the port will become a hub of trade and commerce activities in the region and beyond and will bring progress and prosperity to the people of Balochistan and economic gains for rest of the country.

Replying to a question on why the development of Gawadar Port was entrusted to China at this point in time, Zardari said that the government did not waste any time and went ahead with the project as soon as the Court's stay order on the case was lifted.

All Baloch leaders to contest elections

Talking about the strife ridden province of Balochistan, Zardari said that all disgruntled Baloch leaders will be actively participating in the upcoming general elections that will return democracy to the province.

Asked about alleviating the strife in the province, the President said that he had passed the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package and as the head of state, he cannot do any more than that.