Pakistan is weighing options on importing gas either from Iran, Turkmenistan or Qatar to meet its increasing domestic requirements and will take a final decision by the year-end, reports Xinhua.
"Dec. 31st is the deadline for a decision on the gas pipeline project," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told reporters here.
Aziz said Indian petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar had been invited by his Pakistani counterpart in early June for talks on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project. The Iranian petroleum minister was also expected to visit Pakistan to discuss details of the project.
Petroleum ministers from Qatar and Turkmenistan had already visited Pakistan to discuss the possibility of bringing in gas.
The $4.5 billion Iran-India gas pipeline hit snags after India had raised doubts about security as part of the 2,600-km pipeline would pass through Pakistan. However, the project looks more feasible now with improvement of ties between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan also has the option of the $3.5 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan gas pipeline project. The 1,600-km project will provide up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually.
A third alternative is to get gas from Qatar through an under-sea pipeline.
Pakistan's demand for natural gas is expected to rise substantially in the next few years, with an increase of roughly 50 percent by 2006, according to the ministry of petroleum and natural resources.
--Indo-Asian News Service
Indo-Australia committed to resolve agri-trade issues
Publish Date : 3/3/2007 7:21:00 AM
The agri-trade has become a very contentious issue in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), but India and Australia have agreed to resolve issues coming in the way of trade in agricultural goods by setting up a mechanism.
RBI to absorb more liquidity to contain inflation
Publish Date : 3/3/2007 7:11:00 AM
In a bid to further contain inflation, Reserve Bank of India today announced a modified market stabilisation scheme (MSS) and liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) to suck out Rs 11,500 crore from the system.
Gold and Silver prices turn distinctly weak
Publish Date : 3/3/2007 7:03:00 AM
Both the precious metals today turned distinctly weak on the bullion market as silver plunged by Rs 570 and gold by Rs 155 on heavy stockists offerings tiggered by sharp fall in the global markets.
Further fall in gold and silver prices
Publish Date : 3/2/2007 7:06:00 AM
Both the precious metals continued to decline on the bullion market here today on sustained offering from stockists in view of fall in the international markets.
Rupee ends marginally up at 44.26/27 a dollar
Publish Date : 3/2/2007 7:03:00 AM
The rupee today ended marginally higher at Rs 44.26/27 a dollar, supported by a smart recovery on equity markets coupled with fresh exporters' dollar sales.
Hyundai domestic sales up 74 pc in Feb
Publish Date : 3/2/2007 7:01:00 AM
Hyundai Motor India today reported a 74 per cent increase in its domestic vehicle sales during February at 15,459 units compared to the same month last year.
Hutchison Telecom files caveat fearing legal move by Essar
Publish Date : 3/2/2007 6:59:00 AM
Hong Kong-based Hutchison Telecom has filed a caveat before the Bombay High Court to ensure that its plea is heard in case Essar moves the court, challenging the the foreign partner's decision to sell stake to Vodafone.
Skoda slashes car prices up to Rs 24,000
Publish Date : 3/2/2007 6:56:00 AM
As car makers Maruti and Hyundai announced a hike in prices, luxury car maker Skoda Auto today slashed prices across all models by up to Rs 24,000 citing reduction in customs duty on imported car parts in the Budget.
Bond prices continue to decline
Publish Date : 3/1/2007 8:30:00 AM
Government bond prices continued to decline on persistent selling while call rates eased in view of ample liqudity in the system.
India should be more conscious of global developments: RBI
Publish Date : 3/1/2007 8:19:00 AM
The Reserve Bank of India today said the steep fall in Indian stock markets was a contagious effect of plunge in overseas bourses and the country should have strong market and regulatory mechanism to avoid disruption in markets.
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