China keen to build Pakistani portion of IP gas pipeline: Official

In an interview with IRNA, Mobin Saulat said that Pakistan is eager to complete the IP project and is taking all steps for the purpose. 

“As the hurdles in the project are removed we will start receiving gas from Iran,” he noted adding, 'We have divided this project into two phases first is the Gwadar-Nawabshah pipeline and the second portion is the 80 kilometer pipeline from Gwadar to the Iranian border.' 

“The Chinese company has expressed the interest in building the remaining portion of the IP, it is part of overall execution plan of the IP project,” said the official. 

Earlier Pakistan's Freign Ministry Spokesman Nafees Zakaria has said Pakistan is pursuing the gas pipeline project keenly. 

“There have been numerous contacts between Iran and Pakistan to carry forward this project,” he said during his weekly press briefing. 

China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPPB) – currently engaged with the $1.4 billion Gwadar-Nawabshah LNG terminal and pipeline project has shown willingness to work on the remaining portion of the gas pipeline from Gwadar to the Iranian border to implement the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.