Friday, December 30 2005 10:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan yesterday (Dec 29, 2005) said that the multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project could take off from 2007 despite political and security problems faced by the three countries.

Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Amanullah Khan Jadoon informed the Senate that the work on the gas pipeline (IPI) project is likely to start during 2007.

This major project is being pursued with the Iranians under a Working Group constituted between the Petroleum Ministries of Iran and Pakistan, he said.

The Minister said this Working Group has held four meetings so far and in the last meeting in November this year, the issues on the project from the point of view of seller and buyer were deliberated upon.

Considering the size and magnitude of the project, both sides agreed to continue to interact with each other to develop a world class safe and viable project, he said.

The minister said Pakistan and India have also constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) to exchange views and develop a commonly acceptable approach towards the project.

Pakistan is yet to take a decision in principle about which of the three pipelines it would opt for. Besides the IPI, Pakistan said it considered the feasibility of Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) pipeline and another pipeline from Qatar.

According to earlier announcements by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz a decision was promised by December 31.