An inquiry has been started into the matter of awarding contract of laying Pak-Iran gas pipeline to an Iranian company, Tadbeer, on relatively higher rates than the international market. The record has been sought from the Ministry of Petroleum and Inter State Gas System (ISGS) company in this regard.
According to sources, international price for laying one kilometre of gas pipeline is $1 million while the contract for laying Pak-Iran gas pipeline was given to the Iranian company at $2.9 million per kilometre to lay 810 kilometres of pipeline. The inquiry has been started against former advisor for petroleum Dr Asim Hussain.
A report of intelligence agencies revealed that kickbacks of $450 million are involved in the contract that caused the initiation of investigation against Dr Asim Hussain. According to sources, the then MD of ISGS Hasan Nawab, who was negotiating the award of the contract, was removed from his position and Mubeen Saulat was appointed in his place. Final inquiry report will be prepared after scrutiny of the records of Pak-Iran gas pipeline project.