Pakistan has expressed dissatisfaction over the preliminary report and demanded of Turkmenistan to present third-party certification of Daultabad gas field in the next steering committee meeting, to be held in Ashkabad in June. An official of Petroleum Ministry told Business Recorder that Islamabad told the Turkmen side that the preliminary report on gas reserves at Daultabab was not sufficient to satisfy the parties. He said that Pakistan proposed a third-party certification of the gas reserves. This was also seconded by the Afghan delegation.
The official said that Pakistan believes that third-party certification will not only remove doubts that Daultabad gas field may not have sufficient gas reserves for the proposed pipeline for 30 years but would also make the committee's case strong for negotiations to seek funds from donors agencies.
A joint statement issued on the conclusion of the meeting also mentioned the reserves report. The statement said that parties had accepted Turkmenistan's point of view and asked it to submit detailed report in a month. The deadline is May 31. According to the official, Pakistan will press for its demand in the next meeting of steering committee.