ISLAMABAD, April 28: The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission says the disposal and storage of the waste material is being carried out strictly as per codes, conventions and procedures governing safety set forth by national and international regulatory regimes.

Reacting to a Friday’s report about nuclear waste dumping near DG Khan, the PAEC said in a statement that it “performs surveillance of the area for the presence of radioactivity in water, vegetation and air, and as per the survey, no radioactivity has been found in any of these sources. There is, therefore, no reason for a large-hoofed cow due to radiations. Such cows are found in other areas of the country due to some other reasons.

“The PAEC will like to add that storage of nuclear waste in the abandoned mines is an established practice the world over and that there is no direct contact of the stored waste with humans or their environments under these storage arrangements,” the statement added.

It further said: “In our case, the areas in use are fenced and guarded, with no chances of unauthorised entry. Hundreds of PAEC workers had been involved in mining uranium from Baghalchur during 30 years of mining operation who maintained residential colony at this site. Thanks to foolproof safety measures, no adverse radiation effects were ever detected in any of them or their family members.

“The PAEC assures that the safety of the public and that of its own employees is at the heart of its working and there is absolutely no reason for concern whatsoever.”