TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistan Industrial and Trader Associations Front (PIAF) urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifto take the private sector on board in the Iran-Pakistan (IP) Gas Pipeline Project as soon as possible, reminding that the recent statements made by Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh showed Iran's intolerance with Islamabad's slow motion.On Wednesday, Iran's top oil ministry official announced the country is likely to give up on the multi-billion-dollar pipeline project which was due to take its rich gas reserves to energy hungry Pakistan.
Chairman of the PIAF Malik Tahir Javed called on Sharif to do his best to accelerate the start of IP gas pipeline project on the Pakistani side through involvement of Pakistan's private sector.
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Suhail Lashari, former presidents Mian Anjum Nisar, Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, PIAF Senior Vice Chairman Khamis Saeed Butt, Vice Chairman Amjad Ali Jawa, Sheikh Muhammad Arshad, Mian Abuzar Shad and a large number of PIAF members were present at the meeting, while Tahir Javad was addressing the members of Executive Committee.
Tahir Javed said the nation has reposed trust in Nawaz Sharif by giving him heavy mandate in the general election therefore, he should give preference to the national interests at every cost and take all decisions while keeping in view the ground realities.
He said that private sector of Pakistan wants to play its role for progress and prosperity of the country but for the purpose, government has to take it on board and involve policy making process.
He said that instead of depending on foreign aid or loans, "we have to accelerate economic activities, enhance industrial production, and find new destinations for Pakistani merchandise as heavy debts have already hollowed the foundations of the country."
The pipeline has almost been complete on the Iranian side since long ago, but the Pakistani side, which has long been under the United States' heavy pressures to give up the project, has been short of financing. Pakistan has run into repeated problems to pay for the 780 kilometer (485 mile) section to be built on its side of the border.
In a recent demand, Islamabad officials asked Iran to finance their part of the project as well.
Yet, last week Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry once again reiterated that Islamabad is resolved to pursue expedition of the pipeline project.
It (IP) should be seen in the context of acute energy crisis that we have in our country, said the Pakistani official, adding that his government is pursuing the case to accelerate the implementation process of the project.
Early in October, Pakistani Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi asked Iran to finance $2bln in the construction of Pakistans side of the IP gas pipeline project.
The Pakistani petroleum minister said preparatory work was complete, but they had asked Iran to provide $2bln for the construction work.
Iran and Pakistan officially inaugurated the construction of the border part of the multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project in March.
The project kicked off in a ceremony attended by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his former Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari at the two countries' shared border region in Iran's Southeastern city of Chabahar.
The 2700-kilometer long pipeline was to supply gas for Pakistan and India which are suffering a lack of energy sources, but India has evaded talks. In 2011, Iran and Pakistan declared they would finalize the agreement bilaterally if India continued to be absent in the meeting.
Iran has already constructed more than 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its soil.
According to the project proposal, the pipeline will begin from Iran's Assalouyeh Energy Zone in the South and stretch over 1,100 km through Iran. In Pakistan, it will pass through Baluchistan and Sindh but officials now say the route may be changed if China agrees to the project.
By Fars News Agency
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