President invites China to replace India in gas project
From Makhdoom Babar

BEIJING—President Pervez Musharraf Monday said the US$ 7 billion Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project could be transformed into an Iran-Pakistan-China (IPC) gas pipeline project to overcome the energy shortage of two countries and meet their growing industrial needs. When asked by a student at Tsinghua University about the chances of China joining the gas pipeline project, President Musharraf said a feasibility report had already been prepared in this regard, and it makes the project viable.
“(But) why this can’t be IPC (Iran-Pakistan-China) pipeline?” the president said in terms of the possibility of the project. He said the gas pipeline from Pakistan’s south to the Khunjerab Pass linking the two countries would be raised till it crosses the pass at 15,000 feet, thereafter more than half of the length would be in decent. He said Pakistan also proposed building the fibre and rail link along Karakorum Highway for better connectivity, which would link Gwadar port with China.
A Chinese firm has already conducted the feasibility study and has submitted its report to President Hu Jintao. President Musharraf said when completed, the project could claim to be ninth wonder of the world and would go a long way in further boosting trade and commerce ties between the two countries. He said the feasibility of having a fibre cable connectivity between the two countries for enhanced data, voice and video traffic also came under discussion with his meeting with Chinese leadership.
He mentioned the two countries’ interests on the prospects of building an oil and gas pipeline along the KKH to meet the future energy needs of the two countries. President Pervez Musharraf has called upon the Chinese Investors to contribute maximum to the industrialization of Pakistan to generate employment opportunities that would help curb the menace of extremism and terrorism. Addressing the Pakistan-China Business Forum here Monday, the President pointed out that Pakistan offers great opportunities for investment in various sectors including joint ventures with a win-win situation for both sides.
He said that he personally feels that the environment in China and Pakistan “is very conducive for creating business opportunities.” The President said that Pakistan is a big market with a population of 160 million population. For the last five years the Pakistan economy has grown at the rate of over 7 per cent while the GDP has more than doubled, he said, adding when the demand-supply gap reduces the profitability is increased. President Musharraf told the gathering that more than 600 companies in Pakistan were earning a very high-level of profit.
He said that he knows that many companies are making profits in double figures and most of are earning profit of 20 per cent and above. “This is the kind of profitability available in Pakistan,” he noted. He said that Pakistan offers lot of opportunities for Chinese investors and the people of Pakistan love the people of China from the core of their heart. The geo-strategic location of Pakistan, the President said, is also very important as it is located at the cross-road of West Asia, Central Asia, Central China and South Asia.
He said that Pakistan offers shortest route for trade and business among all these countries and the Gulf. The President said that Pakistan is developing its communication system and the construction of Gwadar Port is one of these measures while expansion of Karakorum Highway is in progress. Pakistan, the President said also offers cheap labour and is working on improving the quality of manpower by establishing engineering universities with the assistance of foreign countries.