Pakistan has told United States that it won’t abandon its plans to import natural gas from Iran and urged Islamic Republic of Iran to fully finance the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline.

Islamabad, Aug 3/Nationalturk- Defying US pressure, Pakistan has said it has told the US that it won’t abandon its plans to import natural gas from Iran and urged Islamic Republic of Iran to fully finance the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline.

“Pakistan has told US that it will not abandon its plans to import natural gas from Iran,” Pakistan’s Foreign ministry spokesman Aizam Ahmad Chaudhry said.

He said economic sanctions on Tehran are not applicable to the multibillion dollar project. “In our legal assessment, the US sanctions do not apply on this project”.

“Pakistan had handed over a ‘non-paper’ to US Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent visit to Pakistan informing Washington about its perspective on the Iran gas pipeline project. The rationale for giving a non paper to the US was to convey our perspective, with particular reference to whether or not this project would attract US sanctions. In our legal assessment, the US sanctions do not apply on this project,” Aizaz said.

‘Our energy requirements warrant exploration of all option’

Aizaz said Pakistan’s energy requirements warrant that the country explores all possible options, including the Pakistan-Iran pipeline project.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Pakistan would continue work on the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline. “We will discuss the project with the new Iranian cabinet for seeking the entire financing”.

Pakistan is facing worst energy crisis and people in the country have to face 18-22 hours electricity load-shedding.

Iran had committed to the previous PPP-led government a loan of $500 million for laying the pipeline in Pakistan, which would cost more than $1 billion. The two governments had also agreed to award construction contract to Iranian firm Tadbir Energy. The contract, however, could not be signed in the absence of sovereign guarantees by Pakistan.

US has been pressurizing Pakistan to abandon project

Washington has long been pressurizing Pakistan to abandon the multibillion dollar project and threatened to impose economic sanctions if it goes ahead with the plan.

On March 11 this year, Iran’s then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari inaugurated the final construction phase of the gas pipeline.

Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline will enable export of 21.5 million cubic meters (mcm) per day of Iranian natural gas to Pakistan.  Iran has already built 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its soil and is helping to build the 700-kilometer part of the pipeline on the Pakistani side.

The multi-billion-dollar pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of over 180 million people is grappling with serious energy shortages.

The 2700 km long pipeline was originally intended to supply gas for Pakistan and India, but India has evaded talks.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News

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