Fox News
Published Date: Oct 23, 2013
Report: Plan to import natural gas from Iran an economic ‘death sentence’ for Pakistan
A Pakistani advocacy
group says a plan to import natural gas
by pipeline from neighboring Iran would be an economic "death
sentence" for the country because the gas price is too high.
The Pakistani government has struck a deal with Iran to import gas in the hope of relieving the
country’s energy crisis,
especially the shortage of electricity. Gas is used to fire many of Pakistan’s power plants.
But the Islamabad-based Sustainable
Development Policy Institute says in a report released Wednesday
that the contract with Iran means the gas sold to Pakistan will likely be
several times more expensive than the domestic gas currently used in the
country’s power plants.
The deal comes despite U.S. opposition. Pakistan could face U.S. sanctions
for importing Iranian gas.