According to a recently concluded agreement, Iran will supply 750 million cubic feet of natural gas to Pakistan and the project will cost about US $3 to 4 billion. The work on the project has started and the gas pipeline installation is progress. Hopefully, this process will bring in economic well being of the both countries.
Everybody in Pakistan is well aware that our beloved country is suffering from acute shortage of power, gas, water resources which all have contributed to industrial shutdown, unemployment, increase in non-performing loans of banks etc. This has in other words effected the whole of the economy.
What is quite disturbing to note is that the US, like its past behaviour and attitude, has threatened Pakistan to stop implementation on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. On the other hand, what the US has agreed to give Pakistan is "3 used power plants," which could probably produce 800 megawatts of electricity, whereas Pakistan is running short of about 4000 megawatts of electricity. It is quite understandable that the US has not taken concrete steps to help Pakistan.
Pakistan has also invited the attention of the US government. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan has replied to the US that Pakistan will not abandon implementation of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project under any circumstances. Every Pakistani citizen knows that the US has entered into an agreement with India for civil nuclear reactor for fulfilment of its energy requirements, but it has not entered into any such agreement with Pakistan.
Let us pray to Almighty Allah that Pakistan is blessed with energy resources, gas, electricity and hydel power so as to meet its energy requirements. The US should abolish exploiting Pakistan's requirements for power shortages as we are "Big Ally" of the US and is also fighting "war on terror," which has badly affected our economy.
Pakistan should use diplomacy and ensure that Pak-Iran gas project is not shutdown. Pakistan may also advice the US that Pakistan can only win the war on terror if Pakistan gets gas supply from its neighbouring countries like Iran. If this is not done today, anybody can predict that Pakistan will have to face worst economic crisis. It is the birthright of Pakistan to conclude agreements with the US like that it had signed with India for the supply of power and gas to meet its requirements.