Islamabad's Ambassador to Tehran Khalid Aziz Babar underlined on Saturday that the multi-billion-dollar pipeline project which is due to bring Iran's rich gas reserves to the energy-hungry Pakistan will start operation in 2014, Fars News Agency reported.
"We have different projects, one of which is the (Iran-Pakistan) gas pipeline project which will accomplish in 2014 and can be a milestone in the two countries' ties," the Iranian diplomat told FNA.
"The project is moving forward and both sides are after its accomplishment. The pipeline will be completed in December 2014," the envoy underscored.
He also reiterated that consolidation of relations with Tehran sets a priority for his mission.
Earlier, Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Asim Hussain informed the Senate that the pipeline would be completed by 2013, dispelling impressions of external pressure to shelve the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
"First gas flow is targeted by the end of 2014," Hussain said.
"The estimated cost is $1.5 billion, but it will be firmed up after completion of a bankable feasibility study. Initial information for financing the project has been exchanged with international investors from China, Russia and the Middle East," he added.
In a major breakthrough on March 20, 2009, the Pakistani government approved Iran's proposed pricing formula for gas supplies to the South Asian nation.
Subsequently, Tehran and Islamabad signed a final agreement to launch implementation of the project.
Tehran and Islamabad also sealed a final contract for the start of Iran's gas exports to Pakistan through the multi-billion-dollar pipeline in spring 2014.
The last annex of the agreement for export of Iran's gas to Pakistan was signed on June 13 by former Iranian Oil Minister Massoud Mir-Kazzemi and Managing Director of Pakistan's Inter-State Gas Company Naeem Sharafat in a meeting also attended by the Iranian oil ministry's representative in gas talks with Pakistan Seyed Reza Kassayeezadeh.
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. Last year Iran and Pakistan declared they would finalize the agreement bilaterally if India continued to be absent in the meetings.
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.
The gas will be supplied from the South Pars field. The initial capacity of the pipeline will be 22 billion cubic meters of natural gas per annum, which is expected to be later raised to 55 billion cubic meters. It is expected to cost $7.4 billion.
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