Business & Economy: Pakistan to build gas pipeline from Iran alone if India unwilling

Published by UPKNews Staff on Monday, 25th July @ 3:29 pm

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ISLAMABAD (UPK) -- Pakistan said on Monday it will build the proposed gas pipeline from Iran on its own if India refuses to join the project.

Plans for the 2,600-kilometre, $7.4bn pipeline to deliver gas to Pakistan and India from Iran are opposed by the US government, which accuses Iran of supporting terrorism and trying to build a nuclear bomb.

'We would welcome Indian association with this project but if it is not feasible with India, we are going to go ahead with the project in any case,' Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Muhammad Naeem Khan told a briefing.

'This is a project which we need to meet our energy requirements.'

Khan was responding to comments by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who said in Washington last week that the pipeline project was fraught with risks.

Pakistan has become the world's second fastest growing economy behind China, with the economy expanding by 8.4% in 2004-05 FY. The Pakistani Gov is also engaged in oil pipeline deals with Qatar, and Turkmenistan to import oil and gas to fuel the country's booming economy.

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I think Pakistan should go ahead with the Iranian gas line.... with or without bhindia!

Once its built... we can take the pipe line up to our indian border and then dangle the oil hose at the Indian's noses....... n' say....... If u wanna get some gas patel-ji u gotta pay for the pipe ve built........ LOL

I think Pakistan will go ahead with the Iran gas pipeline. I don't believe it will be 2600Km or $7.4 billion investment if India is not included as the return on investment is poor.

I believe India, Pakistan and Iran should resolve any differences and provide concrete assurances to each other in order to get the project moving. The world is much bigger and developing. South Asia cannot afford to remain bottom of the pile.

Asia will never be the bottom of the pile because now china is pulling all other countrys economy together and bringing better life to everyone. China, S. Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore are spearheading the development in the area.

Yaar... I was referring to South Asia.

I agree all those countries are spearheading and this is what worries me. If South Asia does well economically then world will respect us.

The Qatar - Pakistan (GUSA Pipeline) is going to cost around $2.8bn, or a bit more, and the Turkmen is over $3bn. So, I think the Iran - Pakistan pipeline would be around $3bn or so, roughly. Pipelines cost a lot of money.