The Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain, has said that Pak-Iran gas pipeline agreement "is a historic deal". Speaking at a dinner hosted by Abdul Sami Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association, here on Monday night, he said: "Only some anti-state elements are opposing this very important agreement, which was pending from many years."
He said that people who are opposing this agreement are enemies of the state and they do not want progress of the country. He said that the country's gas reserves are continuously declining and there was a need to fill the gap of supply and demand through some other resources. He said that gas supply from Iran was the best option for Pakistan, which was opted by the present government as its top priority.
Dr Asim said that gas is a future necessity of the country and if the needs were not fulfilled in time, the country could face difficulties. He said that India can still join the agreement before finalisation of the design being made for the construction of the pipeline. He said that 42-inch diameter gas pipeline would be constructed and it would be sufficient to fulfil the country's needs.
However, a 52-inch diameter pipeline would be constructed if India joined the agreement before finalisation of the design. After signing Pakistan Iran gas pipeline agreement, now Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India project would be focused. "I have given one-month time, and the progress on this front would be seen very soon", he added.
The Advisor said that the offshore results were very positive and some companies were going to start drilling by the end of this year and in the beginning of next year. He said that the 2100 km long gas pipeline--1100 km in Iran and 1000 km in Pakistan--would be constructed up to Nawabshah via Khuzdar.
Regarding the security issue of the pipeline, the advisor said that local watchmen would be hired to make sure proper security of this national asset. "We believe that 50 percent jobs would be given to the local people to give them a sense of ownership", he added. Advisor to Prime Minister on Textile, Dr Ikhtiar Baig, said that the present government wants to resolve the issue of energy crisis and for this purpose Pak-Iran gas pipeline agreement is very important.
Secretary Petroleum, G A Sabri, said that Dr Asim has played an important role for signing this historic agreement in a very short time. Business community leaders S M Munir, Zahir Hussain and Abdul Sami Khan also spoke and appreciated the efforts of the present government and ministry of petroleum for signing the gas agreement with Iran.