Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that Pakistan’s atomic assets were safe and the responsibility of guarding the assets was assigned to a highly trained 2,500-strong force equipped with modern weapons.
Speaking in the National Assembly, the finance minister said the programme was being thoroughly guarded by the Special Response Force, Special Escort Force, Marine Force, Counter Intelligence Teams and Personnel Reliability Programmes.
Dar informed the lower house of Parliament that in 1999, the programme was divided in different parts, but it now has a unified National Command Authority headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Special Projects Division acts as a liaison among various programmes.
Speaking about the measures taken for the security of strategic assets of the country, the finance minister said Pakistan’s programme for security of strategic assets was prepared with a great sense of responsibility and its defence measures were up to the prescribed international standards.
He said the programme is protected by the Strategic Forces Command working under a strict regulatory regime relating to nuclear safety, including protection of material and facilities, fissile material control and accounting, steps against illegal trafficking and border controls.
The finance minister said the programme had an export control regime of international standards set up by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime and Australia Group.
He noted with disappointment that certain quarters were casting suspicions over the security of Pakistan’s sensitive installations after the recent wave of violence in Balochistan and other areas.
“We need to control our emotions on the matters of national security. It is a matter of life and death for us. On national security, we would have to voluntarily draw certain red lines which should never be violated.”
Explaining the security mechanism, Dar said Pakistan was a responsible state and told the house that the government was always vigilant to the task of securing the country’s sensitive assets which were obtained after great sacrifice.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (11)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1725030039-0/Untitled-design-(2)1725030039-0-165x106.webp "article")
I heard them to be 25,000. Well, everything is OK but why Finance Minister is giving this type of statement?
Its 25,000, not 2,500!
What a waste of 2500 professionals who are guarding what was suppose to guard us!
Since when is the Finance Minister an expert on Defense issues? Kinda like grilling Kayani on IMF negotiations.
Assuming an average salary of Rs. 35000 per month. 35000x2500 = Rs 87.5 crore per month just on salaries. Adding other benefits and perks, the check goes even higher. Another reason why the poor are eating grass.
Key information of the security apparatus and adminstrative framework should not have been revealed as it only helps the enemy.
Keep on saving these assets with fool proof security and let the whole nation to become hostage to TTP. What a choice Mr Finance Minister!
the national consensus on Pakistan’s nuclear programme and the institutionalised structure of the NCA and its secretariat constituted vigilant custodians of the country’s nuclear programme. These safety and security arrangements manifest that neither terrorist networks, nor any external power is capable to seize its nuclear weapons. Hence, the physical-protection systems at the Pakistani nuclear facilities are well-built. There are custodial safeguards, and thereby these facilities are not accessible to unauthorised outsiders and under constant monitoring process.
2500 or 25000??? i heard it 25000..kindly check it
When we talk about National Security, it is not only the nuclear assets, but we should also consider the ongoing terrorism and target killings of our human assests, which are no one else, but people of Pakistan.
And all of them are on VIP duty.