PAC concerned over $18bn penalty if Pakistan doesn't build Iran gas pipeline
Last updated on: 18 May,2023 09:53 am
Noor Alam was critical of US for barring Pakistan from meeting energy needs
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) The Public Accounts Committee has shown concern that Pakistan will be facing a hefty fine of $18 billion if the country did not go ahead with the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project.
In March this year, the Ministry of Petroleum had informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that Pakistan will have to pay $18 billion as a fine if it terminated Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline agreement.
PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan said the US should pay the penalty if it did not approve of Pakistan and Iran going ahead with the gas pipeline project.
He said the US government will have to do away with double standards — being lenient with India in meeting its energy needs while punishing Pakistan for the same.
The observation came after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed the PAC through a letter that a meeting with the US ambassador would be arranged after his return from Washington.
The letter was in reply to a concern arising out from deliberations that the PAC held on March 1.