FAISALABAD: Dr Sajjad Arshad Acting President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) has stressed the need to complete pending Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline on priority basis to avoid penalty of $18bn and to ensure gas to the industrial sector in the wake of fast depleting indigenous gas reserves.
He expressed satisfaction over Iran Pakistan engagement on this issue as the energy crisis has gripped Pakistan with its trickled down impact on the overall Pak economy.
He said that Iran has laid a gas pipeline within its territory but Pakistan could not start work on it due to American sanctions on Iran. He said that being a brotherly country Iran has extended the completion period of this agreed project but still it is incomplete on the Pakistani side.
Dr Sajjad Arshad said that we are facing the worst energy crisis and in this scenario the IP pipeline is in the best interest of Pakistan at this crucial stage.
He said that IP would not only help Pakistan to overcome the gas shortage but also help it to avoid heavy penalties. He said that initially Pakistan is required to lay only 80 kilometres pipeline within its territory while Iran has given consent to further extend the completion period for another 180 days.
He said that if Pakistan takes a bold decision to start work on this national importance project, it could be completed by September, 2024 and thus help Pakistan to avoid a looming crisis during next winter season. He further said that the government must take up this sensitive issue prudently and start work on it as per agreement with the Iranian government.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024