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Pakistan for strengthening non-proliferation regime

* Delegate tells UN General Assembly Pakistan strictly adheres to IAEA standards

UNITED NATIONS: Reaffirming its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, Pakistan has told the UN General Assembly of its continuing efforts to improve control over the export of goods, technologies and facilities.

“We believe that the global non-proliferation regime must be strengthened on the basis of moral, political and international commitments,” Pakistani delegate Raza Bashir Tarar told the assembly during the course of a debate on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He underscored the need for the development of a universal and non-discriminatory criteria for international cooperation in order to afford every state its right to the peaceful application of nuclear technology, particularly in the field of nuclear power generation.

In that process, the Pakistani delegate said principles had to be placed above perceptions. Such an approach would also help strengthen the non-proliferation regime, he added.

Tarar said Pakistan, a long-standing supporter of using nuclear technology for progress and prosperity, looked to the agency and to the developed world for assistance as it developed its nuclear power programme so that a clean source of electricity could be exploited. While nuclear power had been the mainstay of Pakistan’s effort, the country had also developed programmes around application of ionising radiation and radioisotopes for the well being of its people in agriculture and medicine, he said.

The Pakistani delegate pointed out that alongside the inception of its atomic energy development programme, Pakistan had recognised that ensuring nuclear safety and security was of vital importance.

Adherence: Thus the country continuously strives to follow international standards and practices and had based its national regulations on the IAEA’s nuclear safety standards.

He added that the IAEA’s guidance documents on the physical protection of facilities and materials, and on the safety and security of radioactive sources, were being used as a basis for inspection and enforcement. app

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