March, 20 2005	Sunday	09 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, March 19: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Pakistan needs more gas to meet its future requirements and would take necessary decisions keeping in view its national interests. Talking to reporters in the presence of Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi here on Saturday, he said the US had expressed its reservations on the project of gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan and the government had noted them. If India and Pakistan cooperate, he said, the project would incur less cost. However, he said, the matter would come under discussion during the upcoming visit of India’s petroleum minister. He said Pakistan had a number of options to meet its gas requirements and a final decision in this regard would be taken by the end of the year. About the situation in Balochistan, the PM said the government wanted a permanent solution to the problem through political talks. Doors for talks had not been slammed, he said, adding that everyone should keep in mind that resort to firing was not a solution to any problem.