ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that the work on gas pipeline has been completed by his country and Tehran can provide gas to Pakistan in few months.
He said this while speaking at a news conference at the end of his two-day visit that focused on increasing Pakistan’s electricity imports from Iran, boosting bilateral trade ties and reviving plans for the $7 billion gas pipeline between the two countries.
Rouhani said that Iran has constructed this gas pipeline up to the border of Pakistan, adding that it is now up to Pakistan to initiate work on its side.
The Iranian leader said his country was also interested in connectivity between Gwadar and the Chabahar ports through roads and shipping lines. He also stressed the need to secure border with Pakistan.
President Rouhani said his country could meet all the energy, fuel and electricity needs of Pakistan. Iran is already selling 1,000MW of electricity to Pakistan and will increase this up to 3,000MW, he added.
Speaking at a business conference with the Iranian leader earlier in the day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Islamabad and Tehran had signed an agreement to increase annual bilateral trade volumes to $5 billion by 2021.
Trade between Pakistan and Iran fell to $432 million in 2010-11 from $1.32 billion in 2008-09, according to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.
