Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.12
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran will not provide Pakistan with any financial assistance to help it build a power transmission line from Iran to Pakistan, the Mehr News Agency quoted Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian as saying on January 13.
However, the current power supply to Pakistan will be continued, he added.
According to Pakistani sources, Iran will build a powerhouse in its Zahedan province bordering Pakistan to generate electricity for export.
Iran has also expressed its willingness to provide a loan of $800-$900 million for the project.
But, Chitchian rejected paying any loan to the Pakistani side, saying that the agreement was related to the past and Pakistan has not met some of its obligations.
On December 31, 2013, media reported that Islamabad plans to import 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Iran to overcome a severe energy crisis that has been crippling Pakistan's economy for years.
Pakistan is currently importing 74 MW of electricity a day from Iran for bordering areas of Balochistan. Electricity imports from Iran reportedly cost Pakistan around USD 3 million a month.