Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said his country’s nuclear material, facilities and assets were safe and secure.

The Hague, March 25/Nationalturk –Dispelling notion that country’s nuclear arms were not safe, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said his country’s nuclear material, facilities and assets were safe and secure.

“Our nuclear materials, facilities and assets were safe and secure. Pakistan’s nuclear security regime was anchored in the principle of multi-layered defense for the entire spectrum – insider, outsider or cyber threat,” Nawaz Sharif said while speaking at the 3rd Nuclear Security Summit here.

Leaders from 53 countries, United Nations, European Union, International Atomic Energy Agency and Interpol are attending the nuclear summit

Nawaz said Pakistan has established a Centre of Excellence that conducts intense specialized courses in nuclear security, physical protection and personnel reliability. “Pakistan was ready to share its best practices and training facilities with other interested states in the region and beyond”.

He said Pakistan’s nuclear security was supported by five pillars – a strong command and control system led by the National Command Authority (NCA); an integrated intelligence system; a rigorous regulatory regime; a comprehensive export control regime; and active international cooperation.

“Pakistan’s security regime covered physical protection, material control and accounting, border controls and radiological emergencies,” he said.

‘Pakistan running secure civil nuclear programme’

Pakistan, according to Nawaz, had been running a safe, secure and safeguarded civil nuclear programme for more than forty years and the country had the expertise, manpower and infrastructure to produce civil nuclear energy.

“I feel that energy deficit is one of the most serious crises facing Pakistan. As we revive our economy, we look forward to international cooperation and assistance for nuclear energy under IAEA safeguards,” he said.

He called for Pakistan’s inclusion in all international export control regimes, especially the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

‘Radiation detection mechanism deployed’

Nawaz said his country has deployed radiation detection mechanisms at several exit and entry points to prevent illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear materials.

“Pakistan was a party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and worked closely with the IAEA to deal with safety and security of radioactive sources and illicit trafficking of nuclear materials,” he said.

“Pakistan was considering ratification of the 2005 Amendment to the CPPNM and was actively conducting a review to meet its various requirements,” added Pakistan PM.

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Asia News/ NationalTurk Pakistan News