ISLAMABAD, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and Iran Friday agreed to finalize the gas pipeline project at the earliest time to meet the energy requirements of Pakistan, according to local media.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Iranian Counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki here, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said both the countries had agreed to undertake this important gas pipeline project bilaterally for enhancing cooperation and promoting growth in the region.
The News Network International news agency quoted Qureshi as saying that many of the outstanding issues had been resolved while the remaining would be addressed in the forthcoming meetings.
Manouchehr Mottaki said the two sides were committed to the project and would not allow any person or group to sabotage it.
Qureshi said that they discussed steps for promoting trade and economic ties between the two countries. Iran has assured to provide crude oil facility to Pakistan on deferred payment and that will help stabilize the economic situation and ease balance of payment, said Qureshi.
Qureshi disclosed that he would soon visit Tehran to hold further negotiations on the situation in Afghanistan.
Condemning the recent acts of terrorism in Pakistan, Manouchehr Mottaki said these were aimed at targeting stability and security of the neighborly fraternal country and called for addressing the root causes of such happenings.
He said Iran would stand by Pakistan in this difficult time for closer cooperation in the field of energy. He said besides the gas pipeline project, Iran would also establish power plants in Pakistan to overcome its energy problem.
