ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Pakistan on Thursday signed the CHASHMA-2 nuclear power plant-related “Safeguards Agreement” with the International Atomic Energy Agency at a ceremony held in Vienna.

“The Safeguards Agreement was signed by Ambassador Shahbaz on behalf of the

Government of Pakistan and Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the IAEA,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said in a statement issued here on Friday. “The conclusion of the agreement is a success for Pakistan and recognition of its non-proliferation commitments,” she said.

Noting that Pakistan’s two research reactors (PARR-I & PARR-2) and two nuclear power plants (KANUPP & CHASHMA-1) were already under the IAEA safeguards, the spokesperson said: “Pakistan has been fulfilling its obligations in respect of these agreements and looks forward to continued cooperation with the Agency within the framework of the applicable safeguards agreements in future as well.”

The IAEA Board of Governors had unanimously approved the Safeguards Agreement between Pakistan and the IAEA in respect of the CHASHMA-2 nuclear power plant in November 2006.

CHASNUPP-2 is part of Pakistan’s “Energy Security Plan” that envisages an increase in nuclear power generation from the current 425mw to 8800mw by 2030 to meet its growing energy demands.