New Delhi, Feb 6: Petroleum Minister Murli Deora today said a final shape on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline will be given soon, even as it looks to resolve all outstanding differences in the deal. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference here Mr Deora said, ''With Pakistan, the transit fee issue remains and I met the Pakistan Petroleum Minister in London and he expressed hope on resolving the situation.''

Though New Delhi and Islamabad have reached an understanding on the transportation tariff payable to Pakistan, the two nations have not yet arrived at any agreement on payment of a separate transit fee to Pakistan for using its territory. Mr Deora added that with even with Iran certain issues remain and hoped for a solution soon.

Mr Deora added that on Pakistan Petroleum Minister Ahsan Ullah Khan's invitation to visit the country, he will soon visit Islamabad to carry on with bi-lateral talks. Three-fourth of the pipeline will be passing through Pakistan which will also use the pipeline for providing gas to its consumers.

The pipeline is to be laid in the three nations separately. Iran would lay a 1,100-km pipeline from the Persian Gulf to the Iran-Pakistan border, while Pakistan would lay a 1,035 km from its border with Iran to the Indian border.

UNI