ISALAMABAD: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Friday said that work on $two billion Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project would be started soon once the international sanctions on Iran were fully removed.
Responding to various questions in the National Assembly during question hour, he said, Pakistan had lifted its sanctions against Iran and as soon as there was clarity in sanction at the international level work on it would be started. He said the international sanctions did not allow the international contractors and financiers to work on the project.
He said Pakistan was continuously in touch with government of Iran and counterpart Iranian gas company regarding developments on the project and had also completed design of the project.
He said Pakistan was importing LNG from Qatar on lowest prices in Asia, adding that Pakistan was getting the LNG from Qatar at a price of 13.37 percent of 90 days brent. He urged the opposition to refrain from speculations and leveling baseless allegations on this project of national interest. He said the government was ready for debate on the issue.
The Minister said with the import of LNG from Qatar, industries would get maximum gas. He said the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project had no link with LNG.
To another question, he said there was no short and medium term solution to our gas problem other than LNG, adding that it was the first contract and the government would execute more such contracts in future.
The Minister said that 70 discoveries of oil and gas had been made in the country during the tenure of the present government. He said that the government has tripled the efforts of oil and gas exploration.
