The Dawn reported that Pakistan's foreign minister Ms Hina Rabbani Khar has reiterated the government's commitment to go ahead on the Pakistan Iran Gas Pipeline Project and said that the project is likely to be completed by the year 2014.

Ms Khar said that "The Pakistan Iran Gas Pipeline Project is in the national interest and the government has decided to fast track on it."

She added that "The project will help meet Pakistan’s energy deficit to a great extent. The feasibility work has been completed and the government is trying hard to start work on this vital project as soon as possible."

She brushed aside the apprehensions that US sanctions on Iran would affect the project saying, these sanctions are primarily related to oil and not gas. Some sanctions on Iran, she said were emanating from the UN, which was mandatory to follow.

While, unilateral sanctions such as those imposed by the US and European Union were not obligatory to follow.

(Sourced from www.dawn.com)