Running out of patience, Pakistan and Iran on Friday decided to go ahead with the $7.4 billion tri-nation IPI gas pipeline project bilaterally, saying India could join it later at its "convenience".

The multi-billion-dollar IPI pipeline project should be initiated bilaterally between Pakistan and Iran while India could join the venture whenever it desired so, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday.

Pakistan is likely to formally ask China to become part of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project in view of India's "evasive attitude" to the venture, a media report said on Friday.

India is set to join US-backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan gas pipeline project this week, even as it rejoins talks on a rival project from Iran.