Pakistan hopes Iran nuclear deal to help build gas pipeline

Pakistan hoped on Tuesday that the landmark deal on the Iran nuclear program will remove all hurdles in building the long-awaited multi-billion gas pipeline.

The Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline could not be built in spite of a series of agreements because of international sanctions on Iran.

Iran and six major countries, namely China, Britain, France, Russia, the United States and Germany, on Tuesday reached an agreement in Vienna on Iran's nuclear program.

Pakistan Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz welcomed the nuclear deal, saying that his country has always emphasized the need for resolution of the nuclear dispute through dialogue.

Talking to the media, Aziz expressed the confidence that after lifting of economic sanctions,"Iran would integrate with regional and global economic markets and this would benefit different countries, including Pakistan".

He pointed out that before sanctions bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran had reached 2 billion U.S. dollars which came down to just 300 million dollars.

"The lifting of sanctions would also help boost bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran," he added.

He said there is a great demand for Pakistani goods in Iran but mode of payment is the biggest hurdle because of sanctions on the country.

Iran and the six major countries reached the deal to end the decade-old standoff over Iran's nuclear program after more than two weeks of bargaining in Vienna. Pakistan Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said work on the gas pipeline could begin in September.

Officials say Iran has laid most part of the pipeline on its soil but Pakistan has yet to start work. The pipeline will enter Pakistan via its southwestern Balochistan province. Endi