Pakistan needs to build more nuclear power plants for its energy needs

It has already been tasked by the government to install 8800 MW of nuclear power by the year 2030.

This was stated by Dr. Ansar Parvez, Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and Head of Pakistani Delegation, while addressing 55th IAEA General Conference at Vienna according to a dispatch received here Wednesday.

He said, "We strongly believe that restrictions and embargoes that have historically impeded the nuclear power in our country have long out lived any rationale that they might have had".

As Head of Pakistani Delegation he called for equitable and non-discriminatory policies in the area of nuclear power generation and other peaceful applications and stated that all of our civil nuclear power plants have already been under IAEA safeguard and this will continue to be our practice in the future.

Dr. Ansar Parvez apprised the General Conference that historically also, Pakistan has always focused on developing a strong safety and regulatory infrastructure.

It was strengthened by the establishment, in the year 2001, of an independent regulatory and licensing body, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory authority (PNRA).

PNRA has grown rapidly in the last decade to establish itself as a strong, independent and credible overseer. It has maintained very close links with the IAEA, both as a taker and a giver.

"We attach great importance to nuclear security as a national responsibility. Pakistan is a party to several international regimes on nuclear safety and security and commits itself to participate in the related activities and programmes of the IAEA", he stated.

He emphasized that IAEA can help ensure free flow of safety related technological information and equipment between member states.

This should be an intrinsic part of IAEA's focus on nuclear safety. At the same time, more resources should be devoted to safety assurance.

Striking the right balance between its different activities is going to be a challenge for IAEA, but we believe that it can be met by rationalizing the priorities.

Talking about PAEC's Human Resource Development programme Dr. Parvez said "we have a network of in-house educational and training institutions that encompass all major facets of nuclear science and technology".

Besides meeting the needs of our own programmes, these institutes are ready to welcome participants from other IAEA member states.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011