Pakistan and Iran are likely to sign the gas pipeline project by April 25, even if India chooses to stay away for the time being, officials said. "If India does not want to join in the agreement immediately, it can join later. We will sign it bilaterally for the time being," a senior government official told this newspaper. He said the Pakistan government wants to complete the project soon due to increasing demand for gas. A draft had also been prepared in this regard. "India can always join us. We are not excluding them. We want them to sign it with us," the official said.