IPI project makes more economic sense if India is on board:Pak

Thu, Jul 24 08:24 PM

H S Rao London, Jul 24 (PTI) Pakistan today said the ambitious multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project with India and Iran makes "more economic sense" if New Delhi is on board and argued that it could also serve as an "incentive for stability" in the region. "If India is on board the IPI gas pipeline project, it makes all the more economic sense," Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said answering questions at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a renowned think tank here, after delivering a lecture.

Noting that India is also deficient in energy, Qureshi said "both stand to gain (from the pipeline)." "It can be used as a confidence building measure," he stated.

In his address, Qureshi said "South Asia is also gravely affected by the energy crisis. The worldwide quest for accelerated growth in industry, services and agriculture gives rise to increase in demand for energy.

"In this context Pakistan is seeking to pursue international gas pipeline options, with which we hope we will position ourselves as an energy hub for South Asia and possibly China through the port of Gwadar." "We have a planned gas pipeline from Iran, crossing Pakistan and heading on to India.

This project offers not just energy to both nations but could also serve as an incentive for stability in the region. Another pipeline project is from Turkmanistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and, possibly, onward to India.

" PTI.

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