The Dawn reported that Pakistan has sent a proposal to China asking it to join the USD 7.5 billion Iran Pakistan India gas pipeline project if New Delhi pulls out of the venture.

The Chinese government submitted a preliminary report to the Pakistani government seeking more information on the project. The report was submitted after President Mr Pervez Musharraf, on his recent visit to China, asked his Chinese counterpart Mr Hu Jintao to join the project.

Pakistan has also asked the Chinese government to conduct a feasibility study for the pipeline project.

It may be noted that there has been no progress on the project since talks were held between India and Pakistan in Islamabad in April 2008. The Indian government is yet to respond on the issue of the transit fee to be paid to Pakistan for Iranian gas transported across its territory.

Pakistani foreign minister Mr Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who also holds the petroleum portfolio, is expected to hold talks on the project when he visits India on June 27th 2008.