The plan to pump Iranian gas to India through Pakistan was first proposed a decade ago, but progress has been slow because of hostility between India and Pakistan and, more recently, the US opposition to Iran. The proposed 2,670-km IPI pipeline project has about 1,115-km length in Iran, 705 km in Pakistan and 850 km in India, and is likely to be initiated by mid-2007 and completed in early 2010, according to reports.
Pakistan is pursuing the project to meet the expected energy supply and demand gap after 2010.
The prime minister told reporters in Lahore that Pakistan is not only negotiating with Iran over laying the gas pipeline, but is also importing electricity from this neighbouring country. He hoped that construction of the IPI gas pipeline would strengthen the existing relations between the two countries.
On Iran's nuclear issue, Aziz voiced Islamabad's support for the resolution of Tehran's nuclear issue through negotiations.
"Pakistan has never supported military solution to any issue," he said.
Shaukat Aziz said that a diplomatic solution should be sought to the Iran issue, adding that Pakistan and Iran enjoy very cordial relations.
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