UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative at the United NationsMunir Akram has said Pakistan considered safety and security of its nuclearpower plants and research reactors as a national responsibility.
Commenting on the Vienna-IAEA’s annual report at the United Nations, MunirAkram said Pakistan had placed all of its nuclear power plants and researchreactors under the International Atomic Energy Agency’s safeguards withoutexception.
“The country has developed a comprehensive nuclear safety and securityregime, which is regularly reviewed and updated in the light of the IAEAguidance documents and international best practices,” said the ambassador.
He said Pakistan continued to harness nuclear technology for socio-economicprogress and the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
“As a founding member of the IAEA, Pakistan ardently supports the Agency’srole in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology in accordancewith its motto ‘Atom for Peace and Development’,” he said.
Munir Akram said nuclear technologies and applications were being used inPakistan in diverse fields such as power generation, health, agriculture,industry and environmental protection.
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“We view nuclear energy as a reliable, consistent and carbon free source ofelectricity generation. Our efforts to expand nuclear power generation andto increase its share in the national energy mix are driven by the factthat we are not only an energy deficient country but also one of the mostvulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change,” he said.
Munir Akram said in 2021, Pakistan achieved another milestone with theinauguration of its sixth and the largest nuclear power plant of 1100megawatts, the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant K-2. He appreciated thecongratulatory message from the DG IAEA on this accomplishment.
“Another such power plant K-3 is expected to become operational in April2022. Pakistan has been one of the leading partners of IAEA’s TechnicalCooperation programme for a number of years.
“At present, a project in the field of nuclear power development is beingimplemented successfully while three more projects in the areas ofAgriculture, Human Health and Nuclear Power have been designed for theTechnical cooperation Cycle 2022-23,” he said.