Reactors will be open for IAEA inspection: Qureshi

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said nuclear reactors built under the Pak-China civilian nuclear deal will be open for inspection.

MULTAN: Nuclear reactors built under the Pakistan-China civilian nuclear deal will be open for international atomic watchdog inspection, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday.

Speaking to media persons, he said that the country’s nuclear assets “are secure and no one can say otherwise”.

“Pakistan…is a responsible nuclear power. It is fully aware of its responsibilities,” the foreign minister said.

He also pointed out that future foreign policy strategies would be dependent on economic relations with those countries.

Referring to the Turkey-Pakistan train route, Qureshi said Pakistan was working on the project, adding that the country would gain access to Europe through it.

Reiterating quick finalisation of the transit trade agreement with Afghanistan, the foreign minister said that Pakistan has also been negotiating for a trade route to Tajikistan through Afghanistan. Under this transit trade agreement, roads would be constructed to link the three countries.

Highlighting the country’s energy needs, he said Pakistan “is working on the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project to cope with the crisis”.

According to him, the government has allocated funds for initiating the Basha dam project to overcome  electricity shortages.

Appreciating the level of cooperation with China, the foreign minister said that work on over 120 development projects was underway across the country with Chinese help. China, he said, has been assisting to a larger extent in Pakistan’s economic development.

He said that upgradation of railway network is also being considered with neighbouring countries.

Qureshi said that Pakistan will sign an MoU with the United States on mango export from Multan on July 15.

About the situation in Kyrgyzstan, he said things are improving in that country and the government “is in constant touch with the Kyrgyz government to settle problems of Pakistani students studying there”.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2010.