
The Iran-Pakistan-India IPI gas pipeline project could become the Iran-Pakistan-China project in view of New Delhi8217;s delay in joining the venture, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday. India would be welcome to join the project whenever it chooses to do so but Pakistan could not delay the venture any further due to its growing energy requirements, Qureshi told a news briefing here after President Asif Ali Zardari8217;s just-concluded visit to China.
8220;The IPI project can become the IPC Iran-Pakistan-China project or even if it is the IP Iran-Pakistan project, China can invest in it,8221; he said, adding the pipeline could feed energy-deficient areas in China bordering Pakistan. Pakistan has been pursuing China to join the 7.4 billion-dollar project ever since India stayed away from discussing the finalisation of the pipeline.