In a Tuesday announcement following a breakthrough pact between Iran and global powers, Pakistan said both sides would speed up work to finish construction of the pipeline.

"It was also agreed that a meeting will be held shortly between the experts of both sides to review parameters for accelerating work on Iran-Pakistan Gas pipeline," the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement.

Pakistan needs the pipeline from neighboring Iran, which sits on one of the world's largest reserves of gas, to alleviate severe energy shortages that have crippled Islamabad’s economy.

Iran, for its part, has spent hundreds of millions of dollars and nearly completed the 900-km (560 mile) pipeline to the Pakistan border. Under the contract, Iran would export 21.5 million cubic meters of gas per day to Pakistan from next year.

NTJ/BA