ISLAMABAD: The caretaker Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) approved works on the first phase of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline here on Friday. Prime purpose of the move is to resolve the energy issue of the country. The project came on paper a decade before, however due to certain political reasons suffered a long delay.
According to a statement, the Ministry of Energy maintained that a summary of the Petroleum Division regarding the IP Gas Pipeline was tackled by the cabinet committee in its Friday today.
The Cabinet Committee approved the recommendations of the Ministerial Oversight Committee for the project formed by the caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in September last year, whereby the committee recommended to initiate work on the 80km segment of the pipeline inside Pakistan in the first phase. The patch included the area from Gwadar till Pak-Iran border.
The statement further stated that the project would be tackled by Inter State Gas Systems (Pvt) Ltd via funding through Gas Infrastructure Development Cess.
Meanwhile, all the concerned divisions and departments nodded to the development to go ahead with the project to ensure gas supplies to the people of Pakistan, to resolve the increasing energy requirements in the country.
Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline to Boost Energy Sector
The statement further mentioned that the project would not only strengthen the energy security of the country but would also boost the confidence of the local industry in form of sufficient gas supplies.
The project suffered a setback since 2014, whereas Iran issued a third notice to Islamabad in January this year to renew its intention to move the arbitration court for not laying the pipeline as part of the IP gas line project.
However, Pakistan was of the view that, the country was facing problems due to the US sanctions on Iran. However, now Pakistan is showing intentions to move ahead. Meanwhile, Iran already extended the 180-day deadline till September 2024 for Pakistan.
