The News: Pakistan to lay down gas pipeline from Gwadar to Nawabshah

Pakistan is in the process of working on the ways to revive the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, which will lead to import of natural gas from the neighbouring country, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Monday.

Abbasi told The News in an exclusive interview that there are international sanctions on import of natural gas from Iran. He cited as a recent example the fine of about $9 billion imposed on the largest French bank, BNP Paribas, because of its financing transactions with Iran and other countries in violation of the US-imposed sanctions.

However, he added, his government is working to find ways to revive the IP pipeline project.The minister expressed keenness of his government about resolution of the energy crisis in the country at the earliest.

Asked whether the IP project, which is yet to be launched and is bound to miss the deadline of December 2014, is really on track, Abbasi said Pakistan is committed to the IP project. “We need the gas and we want the gas,” he added.

Despite the eagerness expressed by successive Pakistani governments for the project, no government has been able to move ahead on it. Pakistan faces a daily shortage of about two billion cubic feet of natural gas. MORE