The assembled worthies from around the globe listened to a well-argued and persuasive speech in which the prime minister pointed to the fact that Pakistan has a 40-year experience of running a safe, secure and safeguarded civil nuclear programme. The country, he noted, has the expertise, manpower and infrastructure to produce civil nuclear energy. As the Netherlands moot was principally concerned with nuclear safety, he allayed the world’s anxieties about how Pakistan handles its nuclear assets. He assured the conference delegates that his country attaches the highest importance to nuclear security “because it was directly linked to the country’s national security”.
We welcome the prime minister’s address at an important world forum where he aired Pakistan’s legitimate demand for access to civil nuclear technology. This is in keeping with the dire energy situation that we face today. It hardly needs a mention here that the US has already accorded India a similar deal. In order to achieve this goal, we need to keep assuring the international community that any such deal will only be used strictly for civilian purposes and that our nuclear assets are secure and well protected. It is well worth recalling that when US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Pakistan in August 2013, he himself suggested that Islamabad and Washington consider cooperation in civil nuclear technology to meet the former’s energy needs. Let’s hope that we see that happen soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2014.
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Pakistan in 2010 produced 94.5 billion kWh of electricity, 33 TWh of this from oil, 26 from natural gas and 32 from hydro. Nuclear power makes a small contribution to total energy production and requirements, supplying only 3.8 TWh 3.8% of the electricity. International community should realize the energy issues of Pakistan.
History of nuke proliferation combined with a govt which doesn't have real control of almost half of Pakistan --- not a great combo when your trying to convince the World that your stable and have sufficient security to warrant same treatment as more secure nations.
Sending these fraud degree politicians like Nawaz Sharif, who don't know the ABC of Nuclear for such technical confrences and meetings is just waistage of time and money. I am sure he ahs just gone to see his business abroad or to shake hands with foriegn ladies. Had General Kadwai or General Musharraf, the basic organizers of Nuclear Plant and its security or the technical expert should have been sent and they could bring some results.