TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam underlined that Islamabad is determined to complete its share of a multi-billion-dollar pipeline project that is due to take natural gas from Iran to Pakistan.Pakistan is serious and the Iranian government is aware of that, Aslam said in her weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, adding that Pakistan remains committed to the project.
She underlined that Iran and Pakistan have had discussions and a number of options are under consideration by the two sides.
We are considering a number of proposals together, she stated.
In relevant remarks last month, Pakistani Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi underlined that completion of IP gas pipeline project is one of the most important priorities of Islamabad's economic development plans.
Addressing a ceremony for the grant of 12 petroleum concession agreements and exploration licenses to Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), the Pakistani minister voiced Islamabad's willingness to implement the IP project which would transfer Iran's natural gas to the energy-hungry Southeast Asian country.
He further suggested that the timeframe set for commissioning the project should be extended.
Earlier this month, a Pakistani source said that talks on setting new timeframe for the completion of the much-awaited IP gas pipeline project was started in Tehran after Islamabad sent a team of experts and officials to the Iranian capital to this end.
Iran has already built 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its own soil and is waiting for the 700-kilometer Pakistani side of the pipeline to be constructed.
The IP pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of over 180 million people is grappling with serious energy shortages.
IN February, Iran announced that it will send a delegation to Islamabad soon to pursue the construction of IP gas pipeline project in a bid to help the neighboring Muslim country overcome its energy crisis.
The Urdu-language Donya newspaper reported that the Iranian government has assured that Tehran will give a positive response to Islamabads request for extending the deadline for completion and implementation of the project of Iran-Pakistan gas transfer pipeline.
By Fars News Agency
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
