Iranian official: Iran doing its part on gas pipeline to Pakistan

Iran has done most of the work needed to get a troubled gas pipeline developed for the Pakistani market, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said. "Iran has done a major part of the work [necessary] for the implementation of the project and now Iran's gas has reached near the border with Pakistan with a high capacity," Zanganeh was quoted as saying in a Press TV report Sunday. Zanganeh questioned the prospects for the pipeline last week, saying Pakistan was having trouble financing construction of the pipeline in its territory. Iran's Fars News Agency quoted Pakistani lawmaker Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani as saying the pipeline "must be completed." Pakistan's aging infrastructure and energy sector mismanagement have left most the country without a reliable source of electricity, observers say. The U.S. government warned Pakistan earlier this year the pipeline would violate sanctions targeting Iran's energy sector. U.S. officials said the Pakistani government recently provided assurances it would work to better utilize its own natural gas reserves, hydroelectric power and other forms of renewable energy to address its energy crisis.