Pakistan, Iran closer to IPI gas deal finalisation
Saturday, 20 October 2007
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (PTI): Pakistan and Iran are close to finalising a gas purchase agreement for the USD 7.4 billion India, Pakistan, Iran (IPI) pipeline during technical talks here, even as officials said India's decision not to take part in the talks did not mean it had pulled out of the trilateral project.
The three-day technical talks between senior Pakistani and Iranian officials will conclude today and will be followed by secretary-level talks Friday.
"After the technical-level talks, the secretary-level talks will also be held in Islamabad as the dialogue process between the two sides seems to be going in the right direction. And the gas sale-purchase agreement is expected to be signed after the secretary-level talks," an unnamed official of Pakistan's petroleum ministry was quoted as saying by 'The Post'.
The three-day technical talks between senior Pakistani and Iranian officials will conclude today and will be followed by secretary-level talks Friday.
"After the technical-level talks, the secretary-level talks will also be held in Islamabad as the dialogue process between the two sides seems to be going in the right direction. And the gas sale-purchase agreement is expected to be signed after the secretary-level talks," an unnamed official of Pakistan's petroleum ministry was quoted as saying by 'The Post'.