"Nuclear power generation is an indispensable element of our national energy strategy," Pakistan's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Aizaz Ahamed Chaudhry said while discussing the annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"Our 'Energy Security Plan' envisages substantial increase of nuclear electricity generation from the present 425 MWe to 8800 MWe by the year 2030 representing an increase in the share of nuclear energy from the present 0.8 percent to 4.2 percent," he said, referring to Pakistan's high economic growth rate that has led to the rising demands for energy by a population of over 150 million.
"Given our record of safety, the application of IAEA Safeguards on our civilian nuclear power plants, and the strict controls in place on all our nuclear facilities, programmes and technologies, Pakistan expects that the international community shall extend its support and co-operation to meet our rising nuclear power generation needs and its various applications in a number of areas."
Ambassador Chaudhry said it was necessary for the Agency to aid in the transfer of safe technology to developing countries. The work of the Agency's Technical Co-operation Programme was particularly crucial and it should be strengthened and expanded.
Pakistan had two nuclear power plants and was building a third, he said. Pakistan also had a nuclear desalination plant and food and medical products irradiation plants, as well as nuclear medical centres. In all of those facilities, Pakistan had adhered strictly to safety and security measures of the Nuclear Safety Convention.
"We have further strengthened security measures around our nuclear installations to avoid any possibility of sabotage or illicit acquisition or trafficking of nuclear material," the Pakistan delegate said.
Additional steps to augment the safety and security of nuclear installations and to prevent WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) proliferation.
THESE INCLUDE:
-- Effective steps, in co-operation with the international community and IAEA, to eliminate an underground proliferation network which had its tentacles in two dozen countries.
-- A Nuclear Command and Control Authority responsible for Pakistan's strategic assets is in place since the year 2000. There is no question of their falling into the wrong hands.
-- An independent Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) is in its fifth year of existence to ensure safe operation of nuclear plants.
-- Pakistan's Parliament has promulgated a comprehensive Export Control Act which further built upon the existing regime to deal with nuclear and biological weapons, material, goods, technologies, equipment and their means of delivery.
In the Agency's work, Ambassador Chaudhry stressed the need for balance between safety and security concerns and promotional requirements. Safeguards had to be complied with, but verification must be conducted in a non-discriminatory way, so as to ensure that the Agency's safeguards were not used to serve partisan political objectives.
The Agency must be a promoter of, as well as a watchdog over, nuclear activities. The IAEA could not be an investigative body, he said. The Agency's mission could be enhanced by avoiding its politicisation and adhering to its technical nature; by a greater emphasis on its technical co-operation activities; through the allocation of more resources for technical co-operation; and through greater involvement of developing countries in technical co-operation projects.