"Is the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project dead or alive?"
"It's on life support, as it always was."
"Life support?"
"Well, it's damned if we go ahead and damned if we don't."
"But the damned if we don't is preferable to the damned that we do, if you know what I mean."
"Heavens no, I have repeatedly told you to be as clear as... as...as Tahirul Qadri."
"Doctor."
"Sorry?"
"He is a PhD I think, he refers to himself as Dr Tahirul Qadri."
"In Canada and Pakistan?"
"Now you are being facetious Anyway doctor reminds me of Rehman Malik who was awarded a PhD degree from Karachi University."
"Because he brought peace and prosperity to the city?"
"Don't be facetious, it just means they like him in Karachi."
"I am not sure who likes him in Karachi but the Chancellor of the Karachi University and the Qaim Ali Shah administration certainly listen to him."
"Life support to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project is being provided by which country?"
"The rather ridiculous periodic statements by our ministers that they have not been informed by the US that the pipeline would automatically generate sanctions against the country..."
"So Pakistan is providing life support to the project?"
"Well, if we are I am surprised that the machine was not turned off due to heavy unscheduled load shedding during the past five years?"
"Don't be facetious, they have a generator going and the fuel for that is probably being provided by USAID."
"I agree, the US is the only country that is still extending assistance to Pakistan and cessation of that alone would cripple the economy further."
"Russia offered..."
"Meaningless I reckon, Putin didn't even take the chance of visiting Pakistan as per schedule because that would have irritated India."
"But the pipeline project would mean money for the Russian Gazprom..."
"Not happening unless the company is supported by Russia's foreign policy which appears to be on autopilot with respect to Pakistan in spite of several visits to Russia by our President."