ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 : The government will welcome Iranian cooperation in setting up an oil refinery in Gawadar for the mutual advantage of both the countries.

This was said by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Naseer Mengal while talking to visiting Iranian Deputy Petroleum Minister Nejad Hosseinian who called on him on Tuesday.

Mr Mengal said that a lot of potential and scope existed for expanding existing volume of Pakistan-Iran interaction and proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project would be a milestone in the history of both countries.

He said the leaderships of both countries had unanimity of views to implement the project as quickly as possible for the benefit of the region.

He expressed satisfaction over the pace of progress on the project negotiations and hoped that the fifth joint working group meeting would provide fruitful outcome for gearing up the project.

Reciprocating Mr Mengal’s sentiments, the Iranian deputy minister thanked him and the government of Pakistan for extending warm welcome and hospitality to his delegation.

Mr Hosseinian briefed the minister on the progress on the IPI gas pipeline project, saying that it would go a long way to explore new vistas of cooperation between the three states.