ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has started construction work on a 700-kilometer pipeline to import liquefied natural gas from China, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said.
Abbasi told the Voice of America that the project would be jointly funded by Pakistan and China.He said the Gwadar port would be the central hub for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which would allow western China to gain access to warm waters. He said that Chinese funds would enable Pakistan to complete its Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project.
The minister said Pakistan had been trying to overcome its energy crisis by importing gas from Iran but sanctions on Iran had hampered work on the project. Officials had earlier stated that the 700-km Gwadar-Nawabshah pipeline would also facilitate the Iran-Pakistan Pipeline Project if international sanctions on Tehran were lifted. The recent Iran agreement with the major powers on nuclear programme has raised hopes for the implementation of the IP gas pipeline project.
China had been the strongest contender for the Nawabshah-Gwadar pipeline in view of its major role in the development of the Gwadar Port and export processing zone.Meanwhile, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said Pakistan will complete the gas pipeline project with Iran on a fast track basis to meet its energy requirements.
Talking to the state-run radio, he reminded that despite the international pressure in the past, Pakistan did not withdrew from the project. He said the Iranian nuclear deal with the world powers had provided them an excellent opportunity to implement this project at the earliest. This project will help revive the country’s industries, which will generate economic activity and employment opportunities in the country.