Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 9
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran and Pakistan are resolute about boosting energy ties.
Iranian Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met in Islamabad, expressing their willingness to boost all-out ties, especially in the energy sector, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on Dec. 9.
Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan is serious about the implementation of the planned gas pipeline project and increasing electricity imports from Iran.
"To construct 700km length of the pipeline from Gawadar to Nawabshah, we have reached agreement in principle with a foreign contractor," he said, adding that "the contractor says the project will be completed over the course of two years, but I have emphasized that it should be completed in 18 months."
The Iran-Pakistan pipeline is designed to help Pakistan meet its growing energy needs.
According to the original agreement sealed between Iran and Pakistan, the first Iranian gas delivery to Pakistan was projected to start by December 31, 2014.
Iran has already built more than 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 19th session of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission is being held in Islamabad on December 8-9.
The Iranian Minister was accompanied by the Governor General of Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran and the Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan among others.