Iranian energy minister continues talks in Pakistan

Islamabad, Dec 31, IRNA - Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah continued talks with Pakistani
officials on the second day of his visit on Tuesday on bilateral
cooperation in the power sector, officials said.

Fattah, leading a high level delegation of Iranian investors and heads
of major power sector manufacturing companies, arrived in Islamabad on
Monday on a three-day visit.

He held the first round of talks with his Pakistani counterpart Raja
Pervez Ashraf and both will hold second round later today, officials
told IRNA.

He also called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, who
underscored the need for further promoting cooperation especially in
the energy sector.

Gilani also expressed the hope that the MoU signed between the two
countries for the import of 1000 MW of electricity from Iran would
soon be materialized.

The Iranian minister termed the stability and security of Pakistan as
essential for the peace and security of the region.

Fattah's talks with Pakistani representatives of Board of Investment
and officials of private power producers specially focus on
cooperation among private sectors, officials said.

Both sides have discussed ways to promote investment in the power
projects and import of 1,000 MW of electricity from Iran.

Officials said that Iranian companies are interested in upgrading
projects of transmission lines, investment in hydel, thermal and
alternative energy projects and manufacturing of power transformers
and switchgears equipment along with transfer of technology.

Officials said that he two countries are exploring new opportunities
for cooperation in the power sector and will further strengthen
bilateral relations between the two countries.

The visit comes at a time when a high level delegation of Pakistani
Petroleum Ministry is in Tehran for talks on Islamabad's request for
oil on deferred payment.

The Pakistani team, led by Advisor Dr Asim Hussain, is also discussing
the multi-billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.