ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran to start dialogues on how to advance on the IPgas line project which was earlier shelved by the previous Nawaz governmentin June 2016.
Iranian delegation wanted to come to Pakistan, but the caretaker governmentwas of the view that any decision on the project will be the prerogative ofthe next elected government, a senior official at Petroleum Division said.
“In June 2016, Pakistan got shelved the IP gas line project in the wake ofpressure of a leading gulf country, irking the authorities in Iran at thattime and to this effect, the vibes that had emanated from Tehran indicatedthat it might move the arbitration court against Pakistan for notcompleting the project in its territory.”
“Now elections in Pakistan are over, and most likely the PTI headedgovernment is going to take the charge.” Imran Khan, the head of PTI thathas won the elections in the country, is going to swear in as primeminister of Pakistan by August 9 and the whole process to shape up thecabinet will also be completed in the current month.
“Both sides would put their heads together to find out the way out how toproceed for implementation of the project in the presence of the USsanctions and hawkish attitude of the Trump administration. President Trumpis hell bent upon the deviating from the US-Iran nuclear deal earlier doneduring Obama regime. So under the new scenario, the top mandarins of boththe countries would also work out new timelines for the project’scompletion.”
Pakistan hopes Iran will, the official said, not move the arbitration courton IP gas line project, knowing the fact that in the presence of USsanctions, it was not possible to arrange the required funding for layingdown the pipeline.