The second phase of laying of Pak-Iran gas pipeline has started, a senior official said on Saturday. Petroleum Secretary Ejaz Chaudhry said 17 short listed companies have been issued tender papers. He said no company has yet been given the contract to lay the pipeline.
He said interested companies will first arrange financing after fulfilling requirements and then they will be awarded the contract in a transparent manner. He said Pakistan wants to complete the project by 2014 according to its set target. A German firm, he said, was given the contract last year for consultancy only.