By IRNA,
Islamabad : A Pakistani parliamentarian on Thursday called for early completion of multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project between Iran and Pakistan.
Speaking to IRNA, Senator Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said the project is highly significant for both Pakistan and Iran.
“The project would also help boost Pakistan-Iran strong bilateral ties”, said the politician.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the long-awaited natural gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan will be completed in three years time.
“We are working on Iran-Pakistan gas pipe line project as it is vital to overcome the energy challenges of the country and it would be completed in three years time,” Gilani said.
Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said that the project should be completed on priority basis. The Senator added, “Iran is like a brother to us and Iranian President is hero of Pakistani people.”
The politician was of the view that in spite of Western pressure Pakistan would not abandon the project.
“Our people will not allow the government to take such step,” he said.
“Pakistan must resist all kinds of pressure over the project,” he added.
The senator said both Iran and Pakistan are very close to each other adding Iran has always helped Pakistan. He viewed that Pakistan should go for more projects with Iran irrespective of external pressures.
“The gas project would further strengthen strong ties between the two Muslim neighbors,” added Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi.
He said the project would also open new avenues for interaction between the two countries.
The lawmaker made it clear that the gas pipeline project is essential for Pakistan to meet its energy needs.
The IP project was proposed in 1990 to support both Pakistan and India who lack adequate natural gas to meet their rapidly booming domestic demand for energy.
Tehran and Islamabad formally signed a multi-billion-dollar gas contract in June 2010, based on which Iran’s natural gas will be pumped to Pakistan from the South Pars gas field in the southern province of Bushehr.
Iran has already constructed more than 900 kilometers of the pipeline, which is to carry 21.5 million cubic meters of natural gas per day to the eastern neighbor.
Natural gas reserves in Iran are about 15.8% of world’s total reserves and stand for world’s second largest reserves after Russia.