Pakistani and Iranian experts on Saturday continued discussion on the US$7.1 billion worth Iran- Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.

They both expressed determination to implement the project as soon as possible, officials said.

The Pakistan and Iran Joint Working Group discussed technical and financial issues involved in the project, route and pricing formula, a Pakistan petroleum ministry statement said.

Pakistan had sent a draft gas pricing formula to Iran based on domestic gas pricing mechanism and the two sides discussed the formula in the talks.

"The two sides expressed full satisfaction over the pace of dialogue over the project," the statement said.

The two sides would finalize the talks on Sunday, it said.

Leaders of both sides will address a joint press conference at the conclusion of the three-day talks.

The Pakistan side was led by Secretary Petroleum Ahmed Waqar while Deputy Oil Minister of Iran Mohammad-Hadi Nejad Hosseinian headed his eight-member delegation.

A trilateral meeting of Iran, Pakistan and India on the projectis to be held in the third week of May.

Hosseinian said Friday that Iran was interested in the early implementation of the project.

The 2,670-km pipeline has about 1,115 km length in Iran, 705 km in Pakistan and 850 km in India.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2006)