Gas pipeline: Iran, Pakistan reaffirm commitment

TEHRAN (March 8) : Iran and Pakistan reaffirmed on Tuesday their commitment to construct a natural gas pipeline between them, the Iranian oil ministry said.

The project for the pipeline to export Iranian natural gas to Pakistan was discussed by Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh and Pakistan's Trade Minister Razzak Daud, an official statement said.

Razzak was in Tehran to attend the first meeting of trade ministers of the Economic Coordination Organisation (ECO), which groups Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan and former Soviet central Asian states.

The statement quoted Razzak as expressing optimism about future trade relations with Iran, saying the proposed pipeline was a top priority. Other topics of discussion during the meeting included the possibility of constructing an oil refinery in Pakistan.--APP