‘Express Tribune’ quoting sources said Pakistan has received the offer from the Iranian Jahanpars Engineering and Construction Company, which could undertake entire engineering, procurement and construction work and provide $1.8bln for the IP gas pipeline project.
The company has expertise in engineering works and has the capacity and reputation to engage in mega infrastructure projects.
However, the gas pipeline is a project between governments of the two countries, which will be implemented through their nominated entities. Therefore, Pakistan has asked the management of Jahanpars to contact government authorities in Tehran to press on with the plan.
“Working groups of the two countries will consider the financing and construction offer from the company,” a source said.
On Saturday, Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Ali Majedi said several European states have thus far voiced enthusiasm for participating in the implementation of the IP gas pipeline project.
On Friday, Adviser to the Pakistani Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that Iran and Pakistan are discussing the technical aspects of the under-construction IP gas pipeline.
He went on to say that two sides are in talks over an extension of the December 2014 deadline for the construction of the IP pipeline as well as financing the project and gas pricing.
He said Tehran and Islamabad will hold ministerial level talks on the project when technical talks are over.
According to the original agreement sealed between Iran and Pakistan, the first Iranian gas delivery to Pakistan should start by December 31, 2014.
The two countries are also responsible for the completion of the pipeline project within their territories, and if Pakistan does not fulfill its obligation to complete the pipeline on its side by the end of 2014, it will have to pay a daily penalty of $1mln to Iran until completion.
Iran has agreed not to penalize Pakistan for missing the deadline.
The United States has been threatening Pakistan with economic sanctions if Islamabad goes ahead with the pipeline project.
However, the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has made it clear that addressing the country’s longstanding energy problems will be its top priority, and it has no plans to reverse the decision on the completion of the pipeline.
Iran has already built 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its own soil and is waiting for the 700-kilometer Pakistani side of the pipeline to be constructed.
The IP pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of over 180 million people is grappling with serious energy shortages.
