Pakistan has told the UN General Assembly Thursday that it considers as a “national responsibility” the safety and security of its nuclear power plants and research reactors, which are under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
Speaking in the 193-member Assembly on the annual report of the Vienna-based UN agency, Ambassador Aamir Khan said that Pakistan had developed a comprehensive nuclear safety and security regime based on an extensive legislative and regulatory framework governing the security of nuclear materials, radioactive substances, associated facilities and activities.
He said that regime was regularly reviewed and updated in light of the IAEA guidance documents and international best practices, noting that the safety and verification aspects of the Agency’s mandate remain its important pillars.
As regards the strengthening of the safeguards system, Aamir Khan, who is the deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, stresses the need for a balanced approach between the promotional aspects and safety or security related concerns.
While sharing the view that all States should fully comply with their respective safeguards obligations, he said that the Agency’s safeguards should not be used for political objectives.
