Lahore, Mar. 10: President Asif Ali Zardari has said Pakistan will purchase gas from Iran even if India pulls out of the project, adding that he would discuss this possibility with the Iranian officials.

The Daily Times quoted Zardari, as saying that Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project was in the best interest of Pakistan and Iran.

He said the government had already proposed to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that it would continue with the project even if India pulled out.

Zardari will leave for a two-day visit to Tehran on Tuesday.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the president attached great importance to the visit and had chaired a meeting at the Presidency to review the preparatory work by various ministries in connection with it.

In December, Iran’s Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari had said Iran would go ahead with the gas deal with Pakistan, even if India chooses not to be a party in the deal.

India decided to stay away from the talks in Tehran in September when a 7.5 billion dollar gas pipeline proposal was presented before it. India demanded costs through Pakistan on a bilateral basis first.

Pakistan had proposed to buy the Indian share of gas from IPI pipeline. (ANI)