UNITED NATIONS, Oct 30: Pakistan on Monday called on the international community to evolve “a new consensus on disarmament and non-proliferation, which would encompass the new framework for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy”.

Addressing the UN General Assembly session convened to consider the “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Munir Akram said: “We hope the UN Secretary-General will consider convening an international conference or a special session of the General Assembly, to evolve such a new consensus”.

Saying that “there is a disconnect between the call of some for full scope safeguards and the Additional Protocol as the standard for peaceful nuclear cooperation and the readiness to consider simultaneously selective exceptions from this standard,” Mr Akram said: “Pakistan supports IAEA’s call for a new framework for the use of nuclear energy which responds ‘to the Lessons Learned and the current reality’. “We also welcome the recognition of the linkage between non-proliferation and disarmament,” he added.

Noting that “Pakistan’s indigenous energy resources are limited,” Mr Akram said: “The Government of Pakistan has therefore launched a ‘25-year Energy Security Plan’ (ESP) to cater to the rising demand for energy. The strategy for the development of power sector is maximum utilisation of indigenous energy resources (hydro, coal, local gas and renewable) to reduce dependence on imported fuels. Nuclear power generation will be an indispensable element in our national energy security strategy”.