Ahmadinejad vows to complete gas pipeline
PAKISTAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Thursday vowed to
complete a mutli-billion dollar gas pipeline to Pakistan on time,
downplaying financial woes and US pressure on Islamabad to scrap the
project.
Pakistan and Iran signed a deal in 2010 under which Tehran would
supply gas to its eastern neighbour from 2014, with sales to reach up to
to one billion cubic feet (28 million cubic metres) per day by mid-2015.
The project envisaged a pipeline, 900 kilometres (560 miles) in
length built from Assaluyeh in southern Iran to the border with
Pakistan.
Another 800 kilometres pipeline was also needed inside Pakistan to
receive gas from Iran's South Pars field in the Gulf.
"We want to complete this project by 2014," Ahmadinejad told a press
conference in Islamabad.
"The portion of pipeline on Iranian side is about to be completed
swiftly, while on Pakistan side the work will be completed soon," he
said, adding that Iran was also extending "financial assistance" to
Pakistan for this purpose.
He said Iran was also providing electricity to Pakistan and the two
countries have signed agreements for up to 1000 megawatts of electricity
supply.
AFP |