The clear-cut assurance that the controversial pipeline would be proceeded with marks both maturity and wisdom by the PML-N government. PHOTO: AFP
However, the clear-cut assurance that the controversial pipeline would be proceeded with marks both maturity and wisdom by the PML-N government. The previous policies of doing away with major projects begun by preceding governments have, over the decades, inflicted a great deal of harm on the country and are, in many ways, responsible for the quandaries we face today in various sectors. The PML-N then needs to be lauded for its good sense. It has also stated that it hopes gas will start flowing into the country by December this year and that the project would move ahead during this fiscal year. This would, of course, be good news for all of us. The PML-N has brought down the cost of the project to $1.25 billion from the previously agreed amount of $1.5 billion. This, too, shows good thinking.
It is assumed that Mian Nawaz Sharif and his team are prepared to deal with the US pressure that will come their way. In a welcome move, they have obviously opted to make the country’s urgent energy needs their priority rather than succumbing to the wishes of foreign forces. Indeed, keeping in mind the energy shortfall, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project is also being seriously considered. The attention given to the energy sector and the ardent efforts to boost it are to be appreciated. It is good that this need has been put ahead of all other concerns, while devising policies for the future and moving on with initiatives set up for this purpose. We must hope the process continues in the future.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2013.
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Controversial pipeline?
Not scraping something from a budget doesn't mean a great deal - you still don't have the money to build the pipeline nor the money to purchase the gas - one of those small "details" no one wants to discuss.
@ Naeem Khan: the first comment did not say that Nawaz Sharif Should not continue with work on Pipeline. It said that Nawaz Sharif will not start because NS has no intention to start a project but will use it blackmail Saudi's and American's. Nawaz Sharif is a businessman, and runs his Government as Itehfaq Group CEO. The advantage of free trade with India is better for his companies than Iran. We are talking to everyone but the best to acquire Gas is disregard and neglected for many years.
Some aspects of this mega project that are not being debated here are: The notion that a nation of GDP(PP) of 350-490 Billions USD cannot pay for gas is ludicrous. Any energy 'expert' worth his newton-joules would know that Natural Gas will continue to get cheaper. Even at the current price it is cheaper than fuel oil that Pakistan uses for power generation. So if Pakistan just laid down a mile of pipeline inside her territory and constructed a giant gas fired power generation plant at Gabd-Chabahar-Gawadar; that alone would significantly reduce costs and make it a worthwhile endeavor. Another aspect being ignored is that an overland piped energy stream into Pakistan makes Pakistan immune from energy blockade in case of war. That is a strategic consideration. Finally, looking from Iran's perspective. Do you think they do not know how much money Pakistan can pay for gas? Since currently Iran's only customer is Turkey and they have huge untapped gas reservoir, they can afford to sell to Pakistan for below market price in order to demonstrate other buyers they are open for business. I think it would be unwise for Mr Sharieff to not pursue this albeit he should be able to negotiate a lower rate and/or a refinery as well. For those of us who are associated with Big Oil know what a major transnational pipeline means in Persian Gulf-Southern Eurasia. Bean counters might disagree with me but I predict that this project is now inevitable!!!
@gp65: You are looking at it from India's angle, when India succumbed to the US pressure ,it does not mean Pakistan will and should , as a matter of fact Pakistan is in dire need of energy, the whole industrial complex is at stand still in Pakistan and it shows in their GNP. You are wrong to assume that Pakistan don't have the money to buy the cheap gas from Iran through this pipeline, the fact is that PPP government could not get any energy even when the Americans promised to help if Pakistan would scuttle the Iran-Pakistan pipe line project. PPP administration waited for more than 4 years but no progress from the US side, then they start resisting and figured out that it was just a ploy to cancel the project. I think Nawaz Shariff should go ahead with the project and it is in the economic interests of Pakistan to do so and they have to stand up some time as a sovereign nation. Why go far away to get the energy when the neighbor is offering the energy, support and friendship, Pakistan must avail it at all cost and let the Indians pay the price later on when they will realize that it was a mistake to pull out of the project.