Nuclear materials: Transhipment to be banned

Pakistan will further tighten rules of movement of nuclear materials, missile parts and biological weapons.

In a bid to allay fears of nuclear proliferation, Pakistan will further tighten the rules on the movement of nuclear materials, missile parts and biological weapons.

A proposal to be submitted to the cabinet calls for closing a loophole in the existing law which allows for the transhipment of such materials from Pakistani ports. The current law prohibits all exports of nuclear materials, missile equipment and biological agents from the country unless authorised by the ministry of defence.

Sources familiar with the matter say that the prime minister has already agreed to the changes in the law and will approve it formally at the next meeting of the economic coordination committee of the federal cabinet.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2011.