ID :
113716
Sat, 03/27/2010 - 14:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/113716
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American lobby working against Iran’s interests: Senator
Islamabad, March 27, IRNA - A senior Pakistani Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed said the American lobby is working against the interests of Iran in Pakistan.
Speaking in the Senate, Prof. Khurshid, the deputy chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, said that the same vested interests were creating hurdles in materializing the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project.
The Senator questioned the government’s ability for not materializing purchase of 1150 MW electricity from Iran, saying the American lobby is creating hurdles in completion of the project.
On a point of order in the Senate, Prof. Khurshid said the Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of cheaper electricity of 1150 MW from Iran was signed in December 2008 but no progress has yet been made.
He asked as why no headway had been made to give practical shape to the electricity project when the country is facing worst load-shedding.
Officials say that shortfall of electricity in the country currently stands at around 4700 MW, the shortage has resulted into 5 to 12-hour power break in all major cities. In villages, the duration has reached to 18 hours, people say.
The power shortage has also badly affected industries and their production.
Referring to a recent interview of Iranian ambassador in Islamabad, Professor Khurshid said that the government is not taking due interest in the Iranian offer for provision of cheaper electricity.
He said presently Iran is providing 39-mw electricity for Gwadar, a port city in southwestern Balochistan province./end
Speaking in the Senate, Prof. Khurshid, the deputy chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, said that the same vested interests were creating hurdles in materializing the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project.
The Senator questioned the government’s ability for not materializing purchase of 1150 MW electricity from Iran, saying the American lobby is creating hurdles in completion of the project.
On a point of order in the Senate, Prof. Khurshid said the Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of cheaper electricity of 1150 MW from Iran was signed in December 2008 but no progress has yet been made.
He asked as why no headway had been made to give practical shape to the electricity project when the country is facing worst load-shedding.
Officials say that shortfall of electricity in the country currently stands at around 4700 MW, the shortage has resulted into 5 to 12-hour power break in all major cities. In villages, the duration has reached to 18 hours, people say.
The power shortage has also badly affected industries and their production.
Referring to a recent interview of Iranian ambassador in Islamabad, Professor Khurshid said that the government is not taking due interest in the Iranian offer for provision of cheaper electricity.
He said presently Iran is providing 39-mw electricity for Gwadar, a port city in southwestern Balochistan province./end
