Pak-Iran Gas-Pipeline Project – Pakistan seek for Russia’s help after China’s refusal

Pak-Iran Gas-Pipeline Project – Pakistan seek for Russia’s help after China’s refusal

After the refusal of China, Pakistan is now looking at Russia to sponsor the multi-billion gas-pipeline project with Iran. Earlier, China had refused to go ahead with its commitment because of the international pressure.

The US has imposed a number of economic sanctions on Iran after the reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran is working towards the enrichment of uranium at more than the restricted level.

Israel feels threatened by a nuclear Iran and because of Israel’s close relations with the US, Iran is suffering big time. However, the Iranian government has refused to take any foreign pressure and has expressed that if the nuclear program is allowed for
Israel and India, then why not for a Muslim country.

On the other side of the coin, Pakistan is facing a massive energy crisis at the present moment and Iran has offered help to the neighboring country in shape of electricity and gas. The world powers are trying to pressurize Pakistan and do not want it to
go ahead with the project. However, realizing the severity of the energy crisis, Pakistan has made it clear that it wants to proceed with the venture.

China succumbed under pressure and as a result, it is not going to help Pakistan regarding the gas-pipeline project. Spokesperson of the foreign office of Pakistan, Abdul Basit expressed that a delegation will visit Russia next month and will hold talks
with the authorities in the Russian capital.

“A Pakistan technical delegation will visit Moscow early next month to have discussions with relevant Russian authorities and companies, including the Gazprom,” said Basit.

While talking about the future of the NATO supplies, Basit said once again that the National Assembly of the country will take a decision regarding this issue.

The spokesperson added, “No government official can think of undermining the role of Parliament.”

There are still a number of question marks over the future of the gas-pipeline project and one of the leading economist of Pakistan, Shahid ur Rehman revealed that even if the venture goes ahead straight-away, it will still take a couple of years before
gas reaches Pakistan.

“Iran has laid the pipeline close to the Pakistan border, whereas in the Pakistani area not even one inch of pipeline has been laid. If the work does not start immediately, we will not receive any gas from Iran by 2014,” said economist Shahid ur Rehman.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=17683

Posted by Yasir Hashmi on Mar 30 2012. Filed under Pakistan, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry