Shana - The new Pakistani government is keen on completion of a gas pipeline project, which is planned to deliver Iranian natural gas to energy-thirsty Pakistan, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources of Pakistan, said.

According to IRNA, the official said on Friday: �Pakistan intends to complete this project.�

Elaborating on the Pakistani government�s achievements in the energy, oil and gas areas, Sarwar Khan said he had received an invitation from his Iranian opposite number to visit Tehran to discuss completion of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline in Pakistan. Iran has completed its share of the project.

He also underlined US sanctions on Tehran, adding the Pakistani government would make decisions based on its national interests.

�Recently, an Iranian delegation have travelled to Islamabad to renew talks on the gas pipeline project and Pakistan is also interested in completion of the project given its ever-growing need for energy,� the Pakistani official said.