Gilani urges world community to give Pakistan access to nuclear technology

Says Pakistan is committed to nuclear security. Restates case for NSG membership.

SEOUL: With Pakistan being the country most feared to cede active weapons grade nuclear material to terrorists, Gilani took to the stage to assuage world leaders. Addressing a dinner hosted for world leaders attending the Nuclear summit in Seoul, South Korea, a calm Gillani asserted that the democratic government of Pakistan is fully committed to nuclear security.

“We have focussed especially on capacity building and interaction with the international community.”

Detailing steps taken by Pakistan to ensure nuclear safety, he said “we have established a Center of Excellence for Training, which conducts specialised courses in nuclear security, physical protection and personnel reliability.” This center, Gilani said, was open internationally. “We offer this Centre of Excellence as a regional and international hub for training.”

“We are deploying Special Nuclear Material (SNM) portals at key entry and exit points to detect, deter and prevent illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials,” he added.

“Pakistan has been active in international diplomacy to promote nuclear security. We have supported the work of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT),” he said, adding, “Our reports to the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 Committee have shared details of the measures we have taken to secure sensitive materials and technologies.”

Gilani said that Pakistan had also developed a strong nuclear emergency response mechanism. “Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Coordination Centres work closely with the first responders.”

Fukishima was a watershed for countries having civilian nuclear power plants. “After the Fukushima accident, we carried out comprehensive stress tests of our nuclear power plants. Following these tests, we have refined and improved safety parameters,” Gilani said.

Additionally, the Premier said “Last year, the IAEA Board of Governors unanimously approved the safeguards agreements of our two new civil nuclear power plants. This shows the international community’s continued confidence in the safety and security standards maintained by Pakistan.”

Based on this, Gilani said that the country’s National Command Authority has approved Nuclear Power Programme 2050 according to which Pakistan will be building two new power plants. “We urge the international community to give Pakistan access to nuclear technology for peaceful uses on a non-discriminatory basis.”

“Pakistan qualifies to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other export control regimes,” he added.

 

However, it lay not only for Pakistan to ensure nuclear security. “Together, we have taken steps to create a secure world that will not live under the fear of nuclear terrorist attacks. We firmly believe that nuclear materials must never fall into the hands of terrorists,” the Prime Minister reiterated.

Gilnani said that Pakistan was engaged in dialogue with other South Asia countries to improve nuclear security.

However, the Prime Minister said that the prerogative for nuclear security lay on individual nations. “If nations do not move, nothing would move. If nations move feebly, nuclear risks increase many times. But nations need to move together and learn from each other. And this is precisely what we aim to accomplish at this Summit”