Amid US concerns, Pakistan declared Friday that it was pursuing the multi-billion dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project due to acute energy crisis in the country and it was also conveyed to the US side by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his recent meetings in Washington.
Pakistan financial daily, Business Recorder, announced this adding Foreign Office spokesperson Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry responding to queries during a weekly press briefing said the issue of IP gas pipeline project also came under discussion during the recent meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and President Barack Obama in Washington.
“Yes, the matter of [IP] was discussed. The position of the government of Pakistan was made clear. It should be seen in the context of acute energy crisis that we have in our country,” he said, adding that all options are on the table and the government is pursuing the project. He described the Prime Minister’s visit to the US as successful and result-oriented, and expressed the hope that it will help strengthen bilateral relations based on mutual respect.
He said the Prime Minister focused on all issues of interest and concern to Pakistan including economic growth, seeking US co-operation to solve energy crisis, enhance trade co-operation, social sector development, counter-terrorism, regional stability and a balance in the bilateral relationship based on mutual respect and benefits.
“The visit was certainly successful from every angle as it would now enable the two countries to rebuild ties on the basis of mutual respect and interest, and bring things out of the mistrust witnessed in the recent past,” he remarked. He said the primary achievement of the visit was that “a new beginning has been made by the elected leadership of Pakistan to build relationship with the US based on mutuality of interest.”
Referring to the US co-operation in addressing the energy crisis, he said that Pakistan and the US energy group constituted under the strategic dialogue will be meeting in November 2013 followed by a US-organised Pakistani trade mission to meet US energy companies in Houston, Texas.
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