TEHRAN: Iran’s oil ministry said on Wednesday that Pakistan is contractually obliged to complete a major pipeline project which would allow Tehran to export gas to its neighbour.

“Iran has carried out its commitments... and expects the Pakistani side to honour its own,” the deputy oil minister, Ali Majedi, said in a statement.

“They should even pick up the pace of work and make up for falling behind schedule” in constructing Pakistan’s 780-kilometre side of the pipeline, he said. Iran, which has the world’s second largest gas reserves, says work on its side in the $7.5-billion project launched in 2010 is almost finished.—AFP