Pakistan and Russia have signed a major agreement to build a 1,100-kilometre gas pipeline from Lahore to Karachi at an estimated cost of $2 billion. It is expected that this cooperation will take ties between the two Cold War-era adversaries “to a new level”. Russia will invest $2 billion in the project, the first phase of which is expected to conclude by December 2017 with the completion in 2018.

The 1,100-kilometre pipeline with a capacity of 12.4 billion cubic metre per annum will connect Karachi’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals with those in Lahore. The project will be implemented in compliance with BOOT model (Build Own Operate Transfer). The pipeline will be owned and operated by the manufacturer for 25 years. After that the pipeline will be handed over to the Pakistan government.

The North-South gas pipeline project would be built by Russian company RT Global Resources, a part of Russian state corporation Rostec. Pakistan and Russia are deepening cooperation in various sectors as ties have been on an upward trajectory for the past few years.

Did You Know?

• Pakistan manufactures more than 50% of World’s hand-sewed footballs.
• Pakistan is the first Islamic country in the world to attain nuclear power.
• Pakistan has the largest Irrigation System of the world.
• Pakistan shares a land border with Afghanistan, China, India and Iran.
• The official currency of Pakistan is the Pakistani rupee.
• Pakistan’s national sport is field hockey.
• The national drink of Pakistan is Sugarcane juice, called “roh” the juice is usually only sold by roadside vendors throughout the country.
• Gwadar port is the largest deep sea port in the world, located on the southwestern Arabian Sea along the coast line of Balochistan, Pakistan.