Pak-India Joint Working Group (JWG) on Thursday declared that Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project was inevitable for both the countries to plug their ever increasing demand and supply gap.
The technical experts of both the countries expressed identical views on all the key issues relating to the gas pipeline and reiterated their commitment that the project would be made a reality within stipulated timeframe.
It has been decided that the paperwork of the pipeline would be completed by December 2005 and the project would be launched in April 2006.
Petroleum Secretary Ahmed Waqar told Business Recorder that the JWG discussed commercial, technical and legal issues relating to the project and reiterated its commitment to make all-possible efforts to materialise the project as per its original schedule.
He said the JWG meeting itself was of great importance and it would give a clear message to all that the project would soon become a reality.
He termed Indian delegation's approach towards the project very constructive and positive. The secretary added that the outcome of the Islamabad meeting would be discussed with Iran as soon as formation of the new government of that country is announced.
The first Pak-India JWG meeting was held in New Delhi in July.
Earlier, during the first day of talks, Petroleum Secretary Ahmad Waqar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Mukhtar Ahmed jointly led the Pakistani delegation, while Petroleum Secretary Sushil Chand Tripathy led the Indian side. Senior officials of the petroleum ministries of both the countries assisted the secretaries during the meeting.
The meeting reviewed progress made after the first JWG meeting and discussed in detail technical, commercial, financial and legal aspects of the project.
Both the sides expressed satisfaction over its pace and emphasised to work closely for commencing the project as quickly as possible.
In his opening remarks, Ahmed Waqar said that negotiations between Pakistan and India on the gas pipeline project were moving forward in a positive manner and expressed satisfaction over the pace of progress.
He said that the second JWG meeting would pave way to reach a fruitful conclusion.
The Indian petroleum secretary said that both the countries were working to promote confidence-building measures and gas pipeline project would prove to be a milestone for prevailing mutual understanding on the regional issues.
In the meantime, The Indian petroleum secretary called on Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Mir Muhammad Mengal and discussed matters of mutual interest.
Mengal briefed the delegation about the steps being taken by the Government of Pakistan to develop and expand energy sector on sound footings keeping in view rapid growing trend in the socio-economic sector.
He hoped that the JWG would open up new vistas of co-operation between both the countries.
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