THE idea to import natural gas from Iran through a pipeline emerged for the first time in 1953. But this did not materialise in view of the discovery of large gas fields in the country. The government again considered this idea [during] the 1994 energy crisis. … At that time Pakistan was talking of two other gas pipeline projects. One of them was to get gas from Qatar via an underwater pipeline, and another was to import it from Turkmenistan. Qatar later withdrew. In the meantime, the ever-growing demand resulted in the country’s gas resources shrinking markedly.

Pakistan’s major gas resources in Sui are fast depleting and we are unable to find another source of the same size. Right now the daily availability of gas is 4.3 billion cubic feet and the Petroleum Institute of Pakistan says it will reduce to one billion cubic feet by 2025.

...We have two options for importing gas. Either we should bring it through a pipeline or ship very costly LNG. ...In contrast, the pipeline gas is a cheap option. The reported rate of gas from Iran is $13 per unit. But protection of the pipeline is a major issue. Around 780km of the Iran-Pakistan pipeline … passes through such areas of Balochistan where the destruction of state installations by separatists is routine. — (Jan 30)

Selected and translated by Intikhab Hanif.