LAHORE - In the wake of United States and five other world powers historic deal with Iran to curb its nuclear programme, the hopes of initiating Pak-Iran gas pipeline project early have now brightened, as trade restrictions will be lifted.
Appreciating the intention of Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to complete the gas pipeline within a year, business community on Saturday stated that situation is appropriate now for early manifestation of this Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline plan following inking a deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme. They said that in the present scenario, when government was posing to suspend gas to the industry for three months, Pak-Iran gas pipeline project is a ray of hope, so, in view of the rising demand of energy, new energy projects should also be focused by the government.
“Following the removal of trade restrictions Pakistan will have an opportunity to complete the laying of pipeline task and the authorities concerned should intensify their efforts to fulfill this dream, which is vital for the survival of industry in the country.” It is a good sign that Iran and Pakistan have decided to fast track discussions on IP gas pipeline project in order to formulate a road map and a more realistic time schedule for the implementation of the project.
APBF central president Rashid Mehr said that Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project is must to overcome crisis in the energy sector, so the government should complete this project on priority basis as early as possible. He said nation has reposed trust in PML-N by giving it heavy mandate in the general elections therefore, the Sharif leadership should give preference to the national interests at every cost and take all decisions while keeping in view the ground realities. Rashid Mehr, who is also TUV Austria Pakistan office chief, said that due to gas shortage, the industrial process has come to halt while because of low productions the industrial growth is also fast shrinking and losing orders from foreign countries. Other leadership of the APBF including Farooq Naseem, observed that the Iran-Pakistan pipeline has become more significant in the present scenario. They said that pipeline project can only be pursued if sanctions against Iran were lifted.
He said that business community already been pressing the government hard for procuring the required energy resource from whatever source suits to it to relieve the country of the mounting shortages of gas. He said that APBF was convinced that the Iranian source is the most feasible, financially as well as from the point of view of proximity and succumbing to any pressure would further worsen the already crippling power crisis.