Islamabad: Petroleum Ministers of India and Pakistan are expected to meet in Islamabad next month to discuss the multi-billion-dollar Indo-Iran gas pipeline, which is to be laid through this country.

Dates for the meeting are being worked out by Pakistan Foreign Office in consultation with the Indian Government, local daily 'Dawn' quoted officials here as saying.

The prospects of the gas pipeline, also referred to as "peace pipeline", were brightened as it figured prominently in discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf at their meeting in New York last month.

The issue is expected to figure again prominently during Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's visit to India next month.

Aziz, in his recent interviews, had denied linking the gas pipeline to resolution of the Kashmir issue, saying that on the contrary the project would help create mutual dependencies. He also indicated that he would be seriously pushing for it during his visit to New Delhi.

Aziz will be visiting India as part of farewell calls on SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) countries as Pakistan will relinquish the Chairmanship of the regional bloc in the Summit scheduled do be held in Dhaka early next year.

International financial institutions like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have already come forward to fund the three-billion-dollar pipeline to be laid through Iran, Pakistan and India, covering around 2600 kms.