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Iran gasoline project most viable: Pak official
ISLAMABAD, March 30 : A Pak official has described the proposed gas pipeline project from Iran to India via Pakistan the most viable option.
Speaking during a talk show on Pakistan Television on Tuesday, Syed Dilawar Abbas, who is the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources, supported the Iranian gas project.
"Iran is Pakistan's neighbour, therefore, the laying of the pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and up to India will surely cost lesser," he maintained. He pointed out that the other option was the export of gas from Qatar via the sea, but added that it would be not only more difficult but also costlier.
About the third option available to Pakistan, he said that the country was also contemplating to import gas from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan, which again will not be as viable as the proposed Iran project.
The senator said that Iran had huge gas reserves and could supply gas to both Pakistan and India to meet their growing needs for many decades.
Pakistan and Iran have in principle agreed to go for a bilateral project, if India continued airing reservations over the project.
Senior officials from Pakistan, Iran and India are to meet in weeks to discuss the project in Islamabad.