STAFF REPORT IBD: Pakistans growing energy needs can be substantially met through import of gas from Iran through the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. However, there is a need to re-evaluate the gas pricing mechanism for the purpose.
This was stated by Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director SDPI, at a press conference recently held in Islamabad.
The press conference came as a follow-up to the recent statement by Hamid Raza, Managing Director of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), suggesting that the gas price has not yet been fixed and can be changed.
He also said that funding options for the project would be more secure if a sovereign bilateral agreement is reached and signed between Iran and Pakistan.
Arshad Abbasi, Energy Advisor at SDPI, said that SDPIs study on the Iran Pakistan gas pipeline has played an important role in generating a policy debate on the issue. He added that the report was reviewed by independent experts and requested all concerned stakeholders, including government, academia, media and intelligentsia to come forward and contribute towards a policy framework particularly in the context of Pakistans pressing energy needs.
Shaukat Hameed, VC Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering (CASE), said that drilling options have still not been fully explored.