Pakistan reacts to Iran’s legal notice over delay in gas pipeline project

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Pakistan has reacted to the legal notice from Iran over delay in completion of Pakistan Iran Gas Pipeline project on Sunday. According to the sources, it said, “Pakistan is keen to complete gas pipeline project with Iran. US sanctions on Iran are hampering the implementation of the project.” The Ministry of Petroleum officials said that being signatory of the project Pakistan wants early completion of gas pipeline. “Both the countries need to solve the issues by mutual consultations,” he added. He further informed that the talks would be held between concerned authorities of both countries. “A delegation of Iran would also visit Pakistan before Eid but official dates are yet to be announced,” he said. It was reported that Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed concerned authorities to tackle the gas line project issue with Iran in a conciliatory manner. The sources said that Pakistan’s reply to Iran’s February 28 legal notice, told the country in writing that there were obstacles in execution of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project as Tehran is under the US sanctions regime. Pakistan is still committed to executing the project, but only if international sanctions on Iran are lifted, Pakistan’s reply said. It is pertinent to mention here that Iran earlier warned Pakistan to reach International Arbitration Court over delay in the gas pipeline project completion. In the legal notice, it is moving an arbitration court against Pakistan for failing to lay down the pipeline in Pakistani territory in the time frame stipulated in the bilateral agreement over the gas pipeline project. A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan considered the notice and directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take steps to iron out the differences with Iran amicably, sources further said. The prime minister directed to follow a conciliatory path over the project with Iran and search the way out jointly with the country for implementation on the gas project.