Pakistan assures Iran 'gas accord will be honoured on fast track basis'

Islamabad, Feb 7 (ANI): Pakistan has assured Iran that it would implement, on a fast track basis, multi-billion-dollar gas and electricity import projects, despite international sanctions and concerns over the latter's nuclear programme.

"Pakistan is fully committed to importing electricity and gas from Iran and we are working on a fast track basis to finalise these deals at the earliest," The Dawn quoted Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, the prime minister's adviser on finance, as telling visiting Iranian Deputy President Ali Saeedlou.

The assurance was given at a time when Washington is pushing Islamabad to back off from the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, which would enable the country to receive up to one billion cubic feet of natural gas from Iran by 2014.

Dr Hafeez and Ali Saeedlou also discussed opportunities to boost trade and increase investment in horticulture, livestock, energy, transport, telecommunications and engineering sectors.

Dr Hafeez said the establishment of a proper rail and road network for goods transport would facilitate trading communities of the two countries to access markets in the region.

"The present visit will further strengthen our friendship and bilateral trade, economic and political relations," he added.

Calling for an early implementation of the projects, Dr Hafeez said: "Pakistan and Iran must actively implement the preferential trade agreement and work towards realising the goal of free trade area." (ANI)