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Gas line work will start in 2007: Pakistan

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Amanullah Khan Jadoon told the Senate on Thursday that the work on Pak-Iran-India gas pipeline (IPI) project is likely to commence during 2007.

The Minister said the multi-billion project was being pursued with the Iranians under a Working Group constituted between the Petroleum Ministries of Iran and Pakistan, he said in his reply during question hour.

According to him, the Working Group has held four meetings so far and in the last meeting in November, issues from the point of view of seller and buyer were discussed.

Mr. Jadoon said considering the size and magnitude of the project, both sides agreed to continue to interact with each other to develop a "world class safe and viable project." The Minister said Pakistan and India had also constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) to exchange views and develop a commonly acceptable approach.

The Minister said there had been 20 attacks on gas pipelines in the country from January 2004 to June this year resulting in loss of Pak Rs. 186.821 million (one $ fetches 59 Pak Rs).

He said major steps were taken by the Government for protection of the gas pipeline and these include engaging the services of security personnel in the sensitive areas in the provinces and deployment of security guards at vulnerable points.

The Minister said patrolling had been enhanced by the company's personnel fully equipped. To another question, Mr. Mengal told the House that Pak Rs. 165.15 million royalty had been paid to the Government of Balochistan as royalty on Saindak Metals project.

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