Pakistan and Iran enjoy good bilateral relations since Pakistan came into being. The current government is also committed to further enhance these bilateral relations with this neighbouring country.  To boost these relations, President Asif Ali Zardari paid his first visit to Iran in March 2009 and then two consecutive visits in July last year. Strong bilateral relations between the two countries provide a platform for enhancing economic and energy cooperation. Pakistan had signed a gas sale-purchase agreement with Iran in June 2009 in Istanbul. The project is needed for meeting Pakistan’s Energy demands and it should be carried out without any delay and hurdles. Pakistan is facing severe energy crisis and the best option is to avail this opportunity to get energy. US Secretary of the State Hillary Clinton has threatened the Pakistani government that “if it goes ahead with the proposed Iran-Pakistan pipeline, it could face consequences as underlined in the Iran Sanctions Act”. It is welcoming to note that the government has rebuffed US warnings to call off Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and is committed to proceed with the construction of this project.
“Iran has offered to provide about 80,000 of barrels of crude per day to Pakistan on a 3-month deferred payment. Earlier, Iran was exporting 45,000 barrels of crude oil per day to Pakistan on three-month credit”.  While Russia is also supporting Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project as it has sought project’s contract and “asked to award a $1.2 billion pipeline-laying contract to its energy giant Gazprom without going into bidding process”. Government should consult Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) in this regard and by taking PPRA into confidence the deal can be sealed. The government should take steps to permanently resolve the issues of electricity and gas shortage. This is highly significant that for the best interest of the country and the people of Pakistan, government has not appeared influenced by the US pressure to halt the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.  This is a bold decision of government and long awaited paradigm shift in Foreign Policy of Pakistan.
HAFIZ MUHAMMAD IRFAN,
Islamabad, March 2.