ID :
130136
Mon, 06/28/2010 - 11:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/130136
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Iran gas pipeline to transform Pakistan into Asian Tiger
Islamabad, June 28, IRNA - The 7.6 billion dollars Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has the potential to transform Pakistan into an Asian Tiger, the Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) said on Sunday.
Americans are opposing the project as they have perceived the project as a threat to their monopoly in the region but have failed to offer any alternative, said Murtaza Mughal, President of PEW.
Washington needs to understand that benefits of a cooperative strategy are always better than the dividends of a non-cooperative strategy. Persistent opposition can supplement anti-American feelings among Pakistanis, he said in a statement.
“The pipeline can boost our relations with China and may help resolve water issue with India as New Delhi may not be able to ignore this source of energy for long. A gas-for-water deal can emerge as a believable confidence building measure”.
“We need this gas, as our economy is under stress and it cannot absorb the shocks of wide swings in energy prices having serious repercussions,” said Mughal.
Pakistan has limited ability to develop indigenous resources in the short run without compromising other critically important sectors.
“Our policymakers have not developed resources that can keep pace with economic expansion resulting in great energy demand-supply gap which Iran gas can help subside”.
For Pakistan, it is an economic issue but the US view it as a political issue that has delayed the project since 1990 when the world’s second largest producer proposed sale of part of 974 trillion cubic feet gas, he said.
The US should stop efforts to deprive Pakistanis of their legitimate right, said Mughal./end
Americans are opposing the project as they have perceived the project as a threat to their monopoly in the region but have failed to offer any alternative, said Murtaza Mughal, President of PEW.
Washington needs to understand that benefits of a cooperative strategy are always better than the dividends of a non-cooperative strategy. Persistent opposition can supplement anti-American feelings among Pakistanis, he said in a statement.
“The pipeline can boost our relations with China and may help resolve water issue with India as New Delhi may not be able to ignore this source of energy for long. A gas-for-water deal can emerge as a believable confidence building measure”.
“We need this gas, as our economy is under stress and it cannot absorb the shocks of wide swings in energy prices having serious repercussions,” said Mughal.
Pakistan has limited ability to develop indigenous resources in the short run without compromising other critically important sectors.
“Our policymakers have not developed resources that can keep pace with economic expansion resulting in great energy demand-supply gap which Iran gas can help subside”.
For Pakistan, it is an economic issue but the US view it as a political issue that has delayed the project since 1990 when the world’s second largest producer proposed sale of part of 974 trillion cubic feet gas, he said.
The US should stop efforts to deprive Pakistanis of their legitimate right, said Mughal./end
