Aiyar may visit Pak in May

Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said he was likely to visit Pakistan in May to discuss the modalities of the $ 4 billion gas pipeline and ways to increase co-operation in the hydrocarbons sector.

"I have received an invitation to visit Islamabad in the first week of April. But due to the ongoing Budget session, I will visit Pakistan in the second fortnight of May," Aiyar told reporters.

The pipeline, which is expected to be functional in about five years, will originate at Asaluyesh in Iran, move through Bandar Abbas in Iran and Multan in Pakistan to finally enter India. The extension of the proposed pipeline would go through the hinterland towards Myanmar, and finally into China.