Pakistani and Iranian experts on Saturday continued discussion
on the US$7.1 billion worth Iran- Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline
project.
They both expressed determination to implement the project as
soon as possible, officials said.
The Pakistan and Iran Joint Working Group discussed technical
and financial issues involved in the project, route and pricing
formula, a Pakistan petroleum ministry statement said.
Pakistan had sent a draft gas pricing formula to Iran based on
domestic gas pricing mechanism and the two sides discussed the
formula in the talks.
"The two sides expressed full satisfaction over the pace of
dialogue over the project," the statement said.
The two sides would finalize the talks on Sunday, it said.
Leaders of both sides will address a joint press conference at
the conclusion of the three-day talks.
The Pakistan side was led by Secretary Petroleum Ahmed Waqar
while Deputy Oil Minister of Iran Mohammad-Hadi Nejad Hosseinian
headed his eight-member delegation.
A trilateral meeting of Iran, Pakistan and India on the
projectis to be held in the third week of May.
Hosseinian said Friday that Iran was interested in the early
implementation of the project.
The 2,670-km pipeline has about 1,115 km length in Iran, 705 km
in Pakistan and 850 km in India.
(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2006)
