ISLAMABAD: Former finance minister Dr Hafiz Pasha has said that Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project is the most viable and feasible energy project for Pakistan and needs to be completed at the earliest. In an Interview with IRNA, Dr Hafiz Pasha said that the IP gas pipeline project should be the top priority in Iran-Pakistan relations. “This project has to be revived at the earliest, because it is most viable and feasible project for Pakistan,” he noted. As compared to other energy projects including Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI), CASA-1000 and Qatar LNG, the IP is the most suitable project for Pakistan, he said. He said Pakistan should also try to sign bilateral trade agreement with Iran with special focus on the exports of rice and textile products from Iran and import of oil products and other things from Iran. “We should take immediate steps to enhance our trade with Iran after removal of sanctions,” he said, adding after the lifting of sanctions, new opportunities are emerging in Iran and being first neighbour of Iran, Pakistan should take advantage of this situation. He added that strong economic and trade ties were in the interest of both Iran and Pakistan. Dr Pasha said current volume of trade between Iran and Pakistan was less than its potential and capacity of the neighbouring countries.