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Decision on gas pipeline within 90 days: Iran

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: Teheran has said it will take a "final decision" on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline within the next 90 days.

The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), official news agency, quoted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as telling Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at Baku in Azerbaijan on Thursday that he hoped for "some positive outcome" within the stipulated time. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the ninth session of the Economic Cooperation Organisation Summit.

Tripartite meet in June

Iran has been negotiating separately with Pakistan and India on the proposed $ 7.2-billion gas pipeline project. Next month the three countries will have another tripartite meeting.

Mr. Ahmadinejad informed Mr. Aziz of his recent talk with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the pipeline and said a "positive decision was expected within three months."

Mr. Aziz said Pakistan, thanks to its rapidly growing economy, was looking forward to early completion of the project. The demand for natural gas was on the rise with existing industries switching to natural gas and with the addition of new cement and heavy industrial plants.

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