Iran gas pipeline: Pak to appoint consultant

Pak will appoint a consultant to suggest a project structure and legal and financial arrangements for Iran- Pakistan-India pipeline.

Pakistan will appoint a consultant to suggest a project structure and legal and financial arrangements for the over $7 billion Iran- Pakistan-India pipeline within the next two weeks.

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"We will be appointing the consultant in the next two weeks. The process is on," Pakistan Petroleum Secretary Ahmad Waqar said after the first round meeting of Indo-Pak Joint Working Group on the pipeline.

He said Pakistan was evaluating the project structure suggested by India. "I must say Indians have been quick in appointing financial and technical consultants," he said.

The Pakistani secretary said a framework agreement for the pipeline was likely by the middle of next year.

Tripartite meeting of India-Pakistan and Iran to discuss the framework agreement was likely in first quarter of 2006, he said.