THE long-pending Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has finally been inaugurated at an official level on March 11. The said project would likely boost economic growth in both the countries.

For Pakistan, this is virtually an adequate choice to meet its energy crisis in terms of its price, which is linked with the global price rather than keeping with the US advised Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline project under consideration.

There appear hindrances over the pipeline issue both on a national as well as an international scale. At the international level, the US factor is one of the biggest hampers on the way of its completion.

And, lack of multi-billion dollars which the banks refused fearing US sanctions. It is sad that internally Baloch nationalists have been demanding a share in terms of job provisions.

The truth is that UN Security Council sanctions against Iran have nothing to stop the gas pipeline legally. The sanction may only be placed by the US directly or indirectly. The European Union can play an instrumental role for the vested interest of the US.

This is oblivious and unfair as the US tactics is to try and keep Pakistan pulled out of the project.

In Pakistan, the next incumbent government would hopefully pay attention to constructing the pipeline to meet the energy requirements of the country.

A.D. BABAR Zhob