Iran, Pakistan fast track Gas Pipeline project

Iran and Pakistan have decided to fast track discussions on the Iran-Pakistan (IP) Gas Pipeline Project in order to formulate a road map and a more realistic time schedule for the implementation of this important project, said an official press release. This was decided during a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif in Tehran. Aziz is on a two-day official visit to Iran to participate in the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). According to a Foreign Office press release, it was agreed that comprehensive technical commercial proposals on the IP Gas Pipeline would be discussed in Tehran between Inter-State Gas System Ltd of Pakistan and the Iranian nominated company Tadbir Energy Gaspar Iranian Co. in the first week of December. The two ministers reviewed in detail bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues, and expressed satisfaction over the friendly and cordial relations between Iran and Pakistan. Discussing various areas of cooperation between the two countries, both sides emphasized the need to put greater focus on bilateral economic relations. Sartaj Aziz had separate bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu and the Minister of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan B. Taganov, said the press release.