A high-level Pakistani delegation led by petroleum secretary Ahmed Waqar left here for New Delhi on Monday to attend the first meeting of Pak-India Joint Working Group on the proposed Pakistan-Iran-India gas pipeline project.
The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) managing-director Rashid Lone, foreign office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani and senior officials of the petroleum ministry were included in the delegation.
The will stay in New Delhi for two days and discuss three options being considered by India and Pakistan for import of gas. The Pakistani delegation will also meet Indian petroleum minister Mani Shankar in New Delhi.
Petroleum secretary Ahmed Waqar told media men at Allama Iqbal International Airport before departure that their discussion with Indian authorities will focus on price formula for gas, volume of gas and length of Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline for the proposed projects.
He further said India had certain reservations with regard to security of the pipeline, which the government of Pakistan had removed during the Indian petroleum minister's recent visit to Pakistan.
Now India is satisfied with security assurances given in this regard, he added. He expressed the hope India would be ready to sign the project by December this year.
It may be mentioned that India had also hinted at taking part in proposed Pakistan-Turkmenistan and Pakistan-Qatar gas pipeline projects. Therefore, both the sides are expected to hold detailed deliberations upon all three options - import of gas from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan, Iran and Qatar.
Meanwhile, SNGPL deputy managing-director Azam Khan told Business Recorder petroleum secretary Ahmed Waqar is also expected to visit various European countries to negotiate with them various issues relating to funding of the proposed gas projects.
He said all three options should be looked into seriously to meet our future gas requirements. He said by 2025, Pakistan would be facing gas shortage of 7.5 billion cubic feet, while South Asia 16.5 billion cubic feet.
"We should go for all three options of gas pipeline projects as, with the passage of time, our needs will rise."
He said even after receiving gas from all three options, Pakistan would be facing a gas shortfall of 1.2 billion cubic feet per day.