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Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline project to be completed before scheduled time 2014

Cabinet splits over IP, TAPI gas pipeline projects

* IP gas pipeline project four times cheaper source than TAPI project

* Intense American pressure against IP pipeline

By Zeeshan Javaid

ISLAMABAD: Two major factions of federal cabinet split over the significance of billion-dollar Iran Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project as ministry of industries called IP cheapest resource of energy opposing the diverted stance of petroleum ministry calling Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (TAPI) most efficient than any other energy resource.

Brushing aside the four times cheaper energy resource IP gas pipeline project under well-built pressure by Washington, federal government inked Gas Sales Purchase Agreement (GSPA) under $7.6 billion trans-Afghan pipeline project providing 3.2 billion cubic feet (BCF) from Turkmenistan on November 14.

A senior official of ministry of industries, on condition of anonymity informed Daily Times that federal government particularly ministry of petroleum and natural resources went under hot waters over the issue if IP gas pipeline project, which is four time cheaper energy resource than other resources including TAPI project.

He said that most important factor, which is being ignore by the ministry of petroleum and natural resources is the worsen law and order situation in Afghanistan in case of TAPI, where hundred and thousands of NATO forces deployed on war against terror and no guarantee of infrastructure security.

Afghan official had claimed that more than 1600 troops of Afghan National Army (ANA) would be deployed over the site, where the pipeline is being passed in Afghan territory, but no official paper and agreement about security concerns has been observed during series of episodes.

Reportedly, both former and present managers including Syed Naveed Qamar and Dr Asim Hussain respectively called $1.25 billion IP gas pipeline project the cheaper energy resource than any other mega project to meet the energy needs, however later on all attention was diverted towards TAPI after well-built pressure by Washington.

To review the following differences between two mega imported energy resources TAPI and IP, sources maintained that actual cost of TAPI was announced $3.2 billion, which was later on shoot up to $7.6 billion because of long delay in materialisation due to lack of authentic policy of petroleum ministry, while the cost of IP gas pipeline was stood up to $1.25 billion, which is four times cheaper than trans-Afghan project.

To control the law and order situation and arrangement of security infrastructure is much easier on the pipeline network of IP as it would pass through Khuzdar district of Balochistan province and Karachi in Sindh, while the main pipeline will continue towards Multan, while in case of TAPI more security risk is involved due to continued war within Afghanistan.

One important thing is that Iran has completed more than 90 percent construction work pipeline infrastructure on Iranian side and Pakistan should start the infrastructure development on priority basis, which unfortunately could not be observed.

Ministry of petroleum claimed yet that the GSPA under TAPI project would be followed by the signing of ‘Heads of Agreement’ and Transportation and Transit accords, by the end of December.

A senior energy manager ascertained that the imported natural gas from Turkmenistan and Iran would help the country meet around 70 percent of its shortfall.

The 1,680 kilometres long Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (TAPI) gas pipeline backed by the Asian Development Bank will bring 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (bcfd) from Turkmenistan’s gas fields to Multan and end at the north-western Indian town of Fazilka.

Official of petroleum ministry on condition of anonymity said that under the GSPA Pakistan was likely to pay 70 percent of crude oil price in international market.

Under the agreement Afghanistan’s share would be 500 million cubic feet per day (Mmcfd), Pakistan 1,325 Mmcfd and India 1,325 Mmcfd.

Official maintained that construction of the pipeline is likely to commence soon and would be completed by 2013-14, which would help overcome growing energy crisis in the country that caused of electricity and gas shortages across the country.

TAPI gas pipeline was to run alongside the Herat-Kandahar Highway in Afghanistan and pass through Chaman-Zhob-DG Khan, Multan in Pakistan.



Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan


Pakistan should not give into U.S. pressure. Afghanistan's future is uncertain, while we all know that Iran can never be controlled by American puppets. America doesn't share the same interests as Pakistan.
 
Government urged to expedite work on Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline


Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has urged the government to expedite work on Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline and complete the project without any further delay to overcome the acute gas shortage being faced by the industry.


The PIAF Chairman Sohail Lashari, in a statement on Tuesday that the government should not give any wait the suggestions of the US authorities on Pak-Iran gas pipeline as taking care of national interests is the duty of the government.

He said that due to gas shortage, the industrial process has come to a grinding halt, while because of low productions the industrial growth is also fast shrinking.

He said that low job creating phenomenon has taken hostage the entire society, which resultantly is giving birth to a number of social issues.

Despite being a frontline ally of the United States in its war against terrorism and suffering a huge monetary and colossal loss, drone attacks have become order of the day and the most recent Nato attack on Pak forces has jolted the very basis of the country's sovereignty, he said.

The PIAF chief said that the government should stop taking dictations and try to implement home-grown policies in the larger interests of the country and its people.

He said that the multiple internal and external challenges being faced by the country calls for a wholesome approach and incentives to the private sector that is considered as engine of growth in all the developed economies.


Government urged to expedite work on Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline | Business Recorder
 
Iran Gas Pipeline to Help Pakistan with Employment


TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project will create job opportunities for more Pakistanis, an Iranian diplomat stated.

The statement was made by Iran's Cultural Counselor and Chairman of Iran-Pakistan Institute of Persian Studies in Islamabad Ghahraman Soleymani in a meeting with Rector of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) Major General Masood Hassan and Head of the Persian Language Department Dr Mehar Noor Muhammad Khan.

At the meeting, the Iranian diplomat said the project would specially create job opportunities for those Pakistanis who have a knowledge of the Persian language, and the Iranian government is planning to offer more facilities to attract Pakistani students, considering demand for Persian-speaking workers after completion of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

In his very first visit to NUML after his appointment in Islamabad, Soleymani said that purpose of his visit was to discuss with the Rector all those areas regarding Persian language learning that can be helpful in enhancing the bilateral cooperation and relations between the two Muslim neighboring.

He told the Rector that Iranian government was ready to provide every possible assistance to NUML so that it would become the best Persian language-teaching institute outside Iran.

Soleymani said that they were working out for NUML's affiliation with top ranking Iranian Universities and more student-teacher exchanges would be offered for NUML teachers and students.

The Iranian government is planning to offer more monetary facilities to attract Pakistani students, as there would be requirement of a great number of Iranian speaking workers as soon as Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project is completed, he added.

Talking to the visiting guest, Hasan said he appreciates the Iranian government's interest in the further promotion of Persian Language Department in NUML and "we request that Iranology department like the one functioning in the Persian Department of NUML should also be established in seven different regional campuses of the University".

Moreover, he demanded Soleymani that besides offering affiliation with Iranian universities and scholarships for Persian language students, the Iranian government also announce scholarships for NUML students who were studying in other disciplines like social sciences, management sciences and IT.

"At the same, we want that Iranian students also come here to Pakistani universities to study different disciplines," he added.


Fars News Agency :: Iran Gas Pipeline to Help Pakistan with Employment
 
We Pakistanis must do what is in our best interests.

If there is an Iran-Pakistan pipeline, the pipeline should also go to China.
 
then trust me first thing kill all the bloody politicians specially the baloch waderas and punjabi industrialist and sindh entapenur politicians
 
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