Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan says that Iran-Pakistan (IP) is a very significant energy project and its completion would end energy crisis in Pakistan.

In an exclusive interview with IRNA, the minister said that Pakistan wants to implement the gas pipeline agreement between the two brotherly countries.

“That agreement was signed in 2009 but unfortunately could not be implemented,” he said. 

He added that he has an invitation from his Iranian counterpart to visit Iran and he is interested to visit the Islamic Republic, however, the program has not been finalized yet.

He said that recently an Iranian technical team has visited Pakistan to discuss IP project adding that Pakistan is willing to complete the gas pipeline as it needs energy. 

He added that due to sanctions we could not proceed and implement this project ‘now we have constituted a working group on the project.’ 'We will take decision keeping in view our interest', said the official.

Ghulam Sarwar Khan assured that he will try his best to start the IP project. He added that ‘we want completion of both IP and TAPI projects.'

Earlier Iranian envoy Mehdi Honardoost had said Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline was a critical project to fulfill Pakistan’s energy needs and will completely change the face of country’s economy.

“IP can be a game changer,” the ambassador said.

Iran and Pakistan have already agreed to open up and review the gas sales-purchase agreement (GSPA) inked between the two in 2009.

The IP project was to be implemented under segmented approach which means that Iran had to lay down the pipeline on its side and Pakistan had to build the pipeline in its territory.