SUKKUR, Feb 4: The Managing Director of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has said that the feasibility report of the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas project will be prepared in two to three years followed by laying of the pipeline from Iran to Pakistan which would take another three to four years.

He said this while briefing newsmen about different aspects of the IPI project on Saturday.

Giving details of the project, Munawar Baseer Ahmad said the gas line was likely to pass through Gwadar to Karachi and then to Punjab via different parts of Sindh.

He said the gas project would give a tremendous boost to economic development of Gwadar which was already attracting massive local and foreign investment because of the development of a new port there.

Referring to provision of gas in different parts of Sindh and Balochistan, the SSGC MD said more than 200 villages of Sindh and Balochistan would be provided gas by the end of 2007.

He said this figure was 10 times higher than 2001 when only 25 villages of Sindh and Balochistan were provided gas. In order to meet this target, the SSGC had allocated Rs3 billion.

In reply to a question about cases of sabotage or terror against gas installations, he said there had been no major incident. He, however, said there had been some minor incidents which were dealt with quickly and gas supply restored without much delay.

About the Faiz Ganj gas line blast that took place a few days ago, the MD said some suspects had been detained by police and an FIR had also been lodged.

He further said the case was being investigated and measures had also been taken for further strengthening of security of gas installations throughout the two provinces.

About checking cases of gas theft, Mr Baseer said a new security and vigilance department was being set up to deal with this menace.

He said a modern central information system had also been set up at the company's headquarters which was ready to become operational and it would be formally inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf in due course of time.—APP