File photo shows technicians welding the Iranian end of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline to its Pakistani section during the inauguration ceremony of the final construction phase of the project.<\/p>\n
Pakistan\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s charge d’affaires in Iran has reaffirmed the resolve of the new Pakistani government to complete the joint multi-billion-dollar pipeline project between Tehran and Islamabad.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cThe new government of Pakistan is determined to complete the gas pipeline from Iran,\u201d said Soheil Seddiqi in a Sunday interview.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cImplementation of the gas pipeline project is related to Pakistan\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s national interests and [Islamabad] is committed to its national interests, regardless of the government which runs the country,\u201d he added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
On July 30, Mamnoon Hussain, backed by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N party, was elected as Pakistan\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s 12th president.<\/p>\n
Seddiqi pointed to Pakistan\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s acute energy needs and noted that Islamabad will complete the Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline despite external pressures and sanctions.\n<\/p>\n
In his visit to Iran on August 3, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari stressed that Islamabad respects all agreements signed between Iran and Pakistan, including the IP pipeline.\n<\/p>\n
The 2,000-kilometer IP pipeline, which is projected to cost 1.2 to 1.5 billion dollars, would enable the export of 21.5 million cubic meters of Iranian natural gas per day to Pakistan.\n<\/p>\n
Iran has already constructed more than 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its territory.\n<\/p>\n
The US has threatened Pakistan with sanctions if Islamabad implements the deal with Iran. However, Pakistan has, on several occasions, stressed that it will pursue the gas pipeline project.\n<\/p>\n
ASH\/HMV<\/p>\n<\/div>\n