TEHRAN: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said that Iran and Pakistan have decided to fast track discussions on IP Gas Pipeline Project in order to formulate a road map and a more realistic time schedule for the implementation of the project.
This was one of the important outcomes of a meeting between Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs and Muhammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iran in Tehran on Tuesday.
"Mr Sartaj Aziz is in Tehran to participate in the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of ten member Economic Cooperation Organisation," a Foreign Office press release said.
It was agreed that comprehensive technical commercial proposals on the IP Gas Pipeline would be discussed in Tehran between Inter-State Gas System Ltd of Pakistan and the Iranian nominated company Tadbir Energy Gaspar Iranian Co. in the first week of December.
This will be followed by ministerial level discussions. The two ministers reviewed in detail the bilateral cooperation, along with regional and global issues.
They expressed satisfaction over the friendly and cordial relations between Iran and Pakistan.
Both sides emphasised the need to put greater focus on bilateral economic relations. It was also agreed to hold the next round of Joint Ministerial Commission in Tehran early next year, the press statement said.
Earlier, addressing the ECO Ministerial meeting, Sartaj Aziz reiterated Pakistans strong commitment to the aims and objectives of the organisation.
Recalling the ECOs aim at promoting sustainable economic cooperation, the advisor remarked that it had a solid program of cooperation, a forward looking agenda and expanding horizon of activities, the statement read.
He observed that ECO had made reasonable progress and needed to show more proactive approach so that the benefits directly affect the lives of the people of the region.
Aziz had separate bilateral meetings with Ahmet Davutoglu, Foreign Minister of Turkey and B. Taganov, Minister of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan.