Pakistan has finalized a contract with China on laying a gas pipeline from Gwadar Port, 80 kilometers from Iran borders, to the Pakistani city of Nawabshah, the final destination of the protracted Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
“The pipeline has the capacity to transfer Iranian gas to Pakistan and is basically a part of the large plan of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline,” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan’s oil and natural resources minister, was quoted as saying by IRNA in an exclusive interview.
The minister added that an unnamed Chinese company is due to commence operations on the prospective pipeline in about two months and complete the project by the end of 2017.
Abbasi noted that following the completion of the pipeline, which has a length of 700 km, only an 80-km distance between Gwadar Port and Iranian borders will remain to be implemented.
Ruling out media speculations on Pakistan’s lack of interest in the IP pipeline, the official said these speculations are “completely baseless”, adding that the contract with the Chinese contractor will ensure 90% of the pipeline's construction.