Monday, July 11 2005 11:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: : A Pakistani delegation of Petroleum officials comes to India today to take part in the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) to discuss sharing various energy options, including the proposed multi-billion dollar Iran-Pakistan-India Gas pipeline project.

The seven-member delegation, which would include Petroleum Secretary Ahmed Waqar and Director General of South Asia in the Pakistan Foreign Office Jalil Abbas Jilani, would discuss the progress made so far on the 2,600 km long IPI project estimated to cost around 4.6 billion dollars.

The JWG meeting would be held in New Delhi on July 12 and 13 and the talks would focus on technical, legal and financial aspects of the IPI, Jilani told PTI here. The talks, however, would be bilateral and a trilateral dialogue mechanism involving Iran, may be formalised in the future, Jilani said.

The first of the JWG, which was established after last month visit of Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, followed talks between Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh and his Pakistan counterpart Amanullah Khan Jadoon on July 7- 8.

Enthused by the talks, Zangeneh told reporters here at the end of his visit on July 8 that he was hopeful that, the project could actually begin after the completion of negotiations and documentation process by April next year.

During this week's talks, Pakistan also agreed to evolve a trilateral talks mechanism between Iran, Pakistan and India.

The JWG was also expected to discuss gas pipeline projects in Turkmenistan-Pakistan-Afghanistan (TAP) and Qatar currently being considered by Pakistan.