TEHRAN (FNA)- A member of the Iranian Parliaments Energy Commission criticized Pakistan for its repeated delays in commissioning the IP gas pipeline, stressing that the project is no more beneficial to Tehran.Speaking to FNA on Monday, Jalil Jafari Boneh Khalkhal pointed to long delays in accomplishment of the Pakistani side of the pipeline, and said, Owing to the existing conditions continuing this project will no more be in the interest of Iran as it has no more economic justification.
Jafari Boneh Khalkhals remarks came after Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that it was not possible to work on the pipeline due to sanctions against Iran.
The MP noted that although Pakistan is a Muslim country and Irans neighbor, it is not complying with its commitments and the experience has shown that it will not pay good money to Iran as it is not ready to pay the costs for the construction of its share of the IP gas pipeline.
Last month, Tehran cautioned Islamabad over falling behind schedule in fulfilling its obligations with regard to a multi-billion-dollar pipeline project that would take natural gas from Iran to Pakistan.
Unfortunately, the Pakistani side has not taken any serious measures to deliver its commitments under the contract between Tehran and Islamabad, Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International and Trade Affairs Ali Majedi said.
The Iranian side has completed more than 75 percent of the gas pipeline on Iranian soil so far, Majedi said.
Iran has already built 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its own soil and is waiting for the 700-kilometer Pakistani side of the pipeline to be constructed.
The IP pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of over 180 million people is grappling with serious energy shortages.
By Fars News Agency
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