As per the publication, citing a senior official of the Energy Ministry, the Inter-State Gas Company (ISGS) has already issued tenders seeking the much-delayed re-validation of survey and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) by consultants.

The development comes amid the United States' explicit opposition to the bilateral project, coupled with warnings of potential sanctions, which has faced a nearly decade-long delay as it was set to be completed in December 2014 followed by its operationalisation in January 2015.

Last month, Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik said Islamabad's position on the gas transfer project with Iran is not merely an expression of desire but "the need of the hour".

Malik pointed to the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, known as the Peace Pipeline, a long-term project between Tehran and Islamabad that has faced delays and funding challenges due to US sanctions for several years.

“We are earnestly striving to advance this project and we have numerously conveyed this commitment to our Iranian brothers,” the oil minister told local broadcaster Geo News television channel.