ISLAMABAD: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Monday that Pakistan was fully implementing the agreed safeguard measures.

The Foreign Office in a statement said that IAEA’s Deputy Director General (Safeguards) Tero Varjoranta conveyed the nuclear watchdog’s satisfaction over the implementation of safeguard agreement.

“The DDG appreciated Pakistan-IAEA cooperation and conveyed the agency’s satisfaction at implementation of safeguard measures by Pakistan,” the FO said.

The IAEA’s safeguards system is a set of technical measures by which the IAEA secretariat independently verifies the genuineness of the declarations made by member countries about their nuclear material and activities.

Mr Varjoranta met Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, the statement said, adding that the two discussed various issues of mutual interest covering Pakistan-IAEA cooperation, especially in the ‘safeguards’ domain.

Pakistan has been operating nuclear power plants under the IAEA safeguards for over 40 years now.

The government plans to increase nuclear power generation to 8,800MWe by 2030 and 40,000MWe by 2050 to meet the energy shortfall. A number of new nuclear power plants are planned under the Nuclear Power Programme 2050.

Pakistan has been seeking international assistance for its ambitious nuclear power generation plan under the IAEA safeguards.

Published in Dawn January 20th , 2015

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Comments (7) Closed

waqas

Jan 20, 2015 09:14am

No doubt, Pakistan has allied its nuclear safety and security mechanism according to global standards. That's why PAEC has successfully operated nuclear power plants for more than 40 years.

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Love Pakistan

Jan 20, 2015 11:44am

Well Done Pakistan!

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Euro

Jan 20, 2015 12:12pm

So many small and larger countries operate nuclear power plants. Apart from the Japan nuclear crisis which is old news, I see no newsreport regarding any safety of any country? Pakistan has done well having a no comment policy on nuclear issues.

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Daring Mard

Jan 20, 2015 12:17pm

Is the world retarded that they will let you have civilian nuclear pacts despite not having a 'first use' policy? Pakistan day in day out via their so called military experts threatens to resort to nuclear attack, if provoked. India has a no first use policy, so the pact. You need to work harder.

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Rishi

Jan 20, 2015 12:25pm

Pakistan nuclear program since its inception has been under strict and harsh criticism despite of its impeccable safety and security efforts in the domain of pursuing its nuclear program. Pakistan as a responsible nuclear state has always cooperated with international regulatory body and have always been committed to the norms of international non proliferation. The criticism raised by the international community can better be answered by the overall security divion of Pakistan and National command authority. The above article has once again strengthened the Pakistan stance over the safety and security of nuclear program and in fact a serious blow to the actors involved in propaganda of maligning the image of Pakistan.

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Saleha

Jan 20, 2015 01:55pm

“Pakistan has been operating nuclear power plants under the IAEA safeguards for over 40 years now.” Yes Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state and this is the vivid reflection of Pakistan’s safeguards set up in nuclear infrastructure. It is the end of all the mythical allegations which international community poses on Pakistan nuclear credentials off and on. The IAEA affirmation dissolved all the myths and presents a reality to the world.

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Saleha

Jan 20, 2015 01:55pm

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