IRAN *- Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost says Iran-Pakistan(IP) gas pipeline is a critical project to fulfill Pakistan’s energy needsand will completely change the face of country’s economy.*
He made the remarks while answering a question at a seminar on ‘Pakistan’sGeo-strategic requirements: Strategic alliances or partnerships’ organizedby Pakistan House, an independent institute of international and culturalaffairs in Islamabad.
“IP can be a game changer,” the ambassador said.
He added that the IP gas pipeline project does not fall under sanctionsadding that Iranian gas can change the face of the economy of Pakistan. “Weare looking to our Pakistani brothers to complete this project,” he said.
Mehdi Honardoost expressing his views said both countries have large numberof youngsters who need jobs and IP can help provide good number of jobs.“IP can also help Pakistan to improve its industry,” he noted.
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Pakistan and Iran have already agreed to open up and review the gassales-purchase agreement (GSPA) inked between the two in 2009.
The IP project was to be implemented under segmented approach which meansthat Iran had to lay down the pipeline on its side and Pakistan had tobuild the pipeline in its territory.
The project was to be completed by December 2014 and come on stream fromJanuary 1, 2015. Under the penalty clause it was agreed by both sides thatif Pakistan fails to have intake of Iranian gas from January 1, 2015, itwill have to pay $01 million per day as penalty.
