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| 24 February 2005 | Thursday | 14 Muharram 1426 |
'Talks on pipeline project in March'
TEHRAN, Feb 23: Petroleum Minister Amanullah Jadoon said here on Wednesday that Pakistan, Iran and India would hold talks on the proposed gas pipeline project on the sidelines of the Saarc energy dialogue in Islamabad next month.
Talking to reporters at the residence of the Pakistani ambassador here, he said the three countries would discuss modalities of the pipeline after deciding in principle to lay it.
The minister said Pakistan was also exploring the possibility of getting gas from Qatar and Turkmenistan and liquefied natural gas to meet its energy needs which would increase in the next 10 years. Right now there was no shortage of gas in Pakistan.
"If agreed the pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and India would be laid in five years.," he said, adding Pakistan would try its best to address India's concerns about security relating to the pipeline," he said.
He said Pakistan would go ahead with its plan of importing gas with or without India as it did not want to destroy its economy. "If Indians come for it, they will be welcomed," he said.
PRIVATE TRUST: Meanwhile, Religious Minister Ejazul Haq said a private trust has been established in Mashad for the assistance of Pakistani pilgrims. He said the Iraqi government had allowed Islamabad to establish a Pakistan House in Karbala. The same would be done in Mashad if allowed by the Iranian government, he said.
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