Islamabad, Apr 19 : Pakistan Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Khwaja Mohammad Asif has said that a high-level meeting will be held next week to resolve the contentious issues that are responsible for delay in finalisation of the four-nation four billion dollars Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.

The steering committee meeting on Tapi is scheduled to be held from April 22 to 24, said Asif adding that the project would help in promoting political goodwill in the region.

The 1,435-km pipeline, which will originate in Turkmenistan's Daultabad gas field, will run 145-km in the host country, 735-km in Afghanistan and 555-km in Pakista.

The project is predicted to be completed by 2018.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador Mashallah Shakari, Asif said Pakistan was vigorously pursuing both the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) and the TAPI projects to meet its growing energy needs and reduce dependence on furnace oil.

Talking about the economic and political importance of the IPI project for the region, Asif said that its early implementation would strengthen and expand economic and trade relations among the countries in the region.

He welcomed India's participation in the project and assured that all possible transit facilities would be provided for the Iranian gas to India through Pakistan, the Dawn reported.

ANI