Statement by Mr. Nabeel Munir, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations on agenda item: 88 “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency” 71st Session of UN General Assembly (12 December 2016)

Mr. President,

We commend the leadership and contribution of the Director General Amano towards the work of IAEA and thank him for presenting the annual report. Pakistan is a proud co-sponsor of this resolution.

For almost six decades, the IAEA has worked successfully as a catalyst for enhancing the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world.

The Agency deserves appreciation for helping Member States advance their development priorities, while ensuring that nuclear technology is used in a safe, secure and sustainable manner.

Mr. President,

We note with interest the Agency’s projections for 2030, which have been readjusted vis-à-vis projections made in 2014. These projections, coupled with the fact that global generating capacity of nuclear energy freached 382.9 gigawatts (electrical) by the end of the year 2015, reinforce the trend of increasing global nuclear power capacity.

We share the Agency’s assessment that nuclear energy would continue to be a preferable source of viable, safe and sustainable alternative, particularly in countries with fast growing energy needs.

Mr. President,

Pakistan is a strong advocate of utilizing nuclear technology for peace, progress and prosperity for all. As the sixth most populous nation in the world, socio-economic development is a principal priority for Pakistan.

For over 55 years, we have sought to enhance application of nuclear technology for socio-economic development. The IAEA has been a valuable partner in these efforts, including through its Technical Cooperation Programme. We, on our part have also contributed to the TCP in the form of training, provision of experts and hosting of seminars and workshops.

Mr. President,

In order to meet its exponentially increasing energy needs and to support sustained economic growth and industrial development in the years to come, civil nuclear power generation is an imperative necessity for Pakistan. Our energy requirements are expected to grow over the next two decades. Our national goal therefore is to expand our nuclear power capacity significantly.

With over five decades of safe, secure and safeguarded civil nuclear programme, Pakistan has always focused on developing a strong safety and regulatory infrastructure.

We continue to improve nuclear safety and physical protection measures at our nuclear power plants and research reactors in accordance with the best international standards, including the IAEA’s own safety standards and security guidance.

Mr. President,

Pakistan believes that focus on nuclear safety and security should further enhance international cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Confidence in safety and security of nuclear and radiological materials and associated facilities should facilitate collaboration in health, industry, agriculture and other sectors.

Our four-decade experience of safely operating nuclear power plants has not made us complacent. To the contrary, we remain mindful of, and attach highest importance to, safety and security. All our nuclear power plants are under IAEA Safeguards.

Mr. President,

Pakistan's ratification of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) is another manifestation of our confidence in our national nuclear security regime - a regime at par with contemporary international standards.

Pakistan is also party to the Nuclear Safety Convention, the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, and the Convention on Assistance in Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency.

We have been consistent supporters of the objectives of the Resolution 1540 and have regularly been reporting on national implementation of related obligations. These reports detail measures taken by Pakistan for nuclear and radiological security, as well as on controls over transfer of sensitive materials and technologies.

Pakistan has also been an active partner of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) since its inception in 2007 and has contributed to the development of its guidelines. We are planning to host a GICNT event in the near future.

We also voluntarily contribute to the IAEA information resources, including its Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB).

We actively participated in and contributed to the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) process. It was useful in enhancing awareness and articulating voluntary political commitments.

Mr. President,

Over the past decade, Pakistan’s nuclear regulatory mechanism has grown into an effective system, underpinned by a robust infrastructure. The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has based its regulations on the IAEA safety standards. The Authority also offers itself to independent peer reviews.

PNRA is closely associated with the IAEA, both as a recipient and as a contributor. The Authority has established a National Institute of Safety and Security (NISAS) for facilitating national and regional training courses on nuclear security. The Institute is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories for training in nuclear radiation safety, nuclear security and physical protection.

Since 2014, Pakistan's Centre of Excellence on Nuclear Security (PCENS) has become an important regional hub for imparting training and sharing best practices in the realm of nuclear security. Earlier this year, the Centre hosted the Annual Meeting of the International Network of Nuclear Security and Support Centers (NSSC), the first time this meeting was organized outside the IAEA Headquarters. This was both a reflection of our robust partnership with the Agency, and our strong credentials in the realm of nuclear security. We also hosted an IAEA Regional Training Course that was attended by participants from 13 regional countries.

With the IAEA, our aim is to further develop and expand these training programs to cover other technical areas with broader participation.

Mr. President,

Besides nuclear power, Pakistan has harnessed nuclear technology for socio-economic development.

In the health sector, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) is providing diagnostics and treatment through its network of 18 oncology hospitals; where 80% of the country’s cancer patients are treated each year. More such hospitals are planned.

Pakistan has also established educational and training programmes in radiation oncology, nuclear medicine and medical physics. We are taking part in the IAEA’s programme of inter-calibration of radiation standards and are providing expert and analytical services in this field to IAEA member states in the region.

For a country of over 180 million people, food security is critical. Four agricultural centres have been engaged in a variety of R&D activities, leading to higher yield and better quality agricultural products and livestock.

With a sizeable civilian nuclear programme and decades of experience in nuclear operations in power generation, health, medicine, agriculture, biotechnology and industrial applications, Pakistan is uniquely placed to offer cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy to developing countries under the IAEA safeguards.

Mr. President,

Pakistan recognizes the important role played by the IAEA verification regime. We share the view that all States should fully comply with their respective safeguards obligations. We have fully complied with our obligations pursuant to our safeguards agreements with the IAEA.

Implementation of the regulatory aspects of the Agency is an important area in which safeguards play a key role. At the same time, promotional activities of the Agency are of highest priority for developing nations. Equitable allocation of extra-budgetary resources is needed for both the safeguards and technical cooperation programmes of the Agency.

Mr. President,

As a state with strong nuclear suppliers' capabilities and an effective national export control regime, Pakistan has applied for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Pakistan views its membership of the export control regimes, particularly the NSG, as a mutually beneficial proposition.

Pakistan's export control regime is at par with the standards followed by the NSG, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and the Australia Group. Pakistan has also declared its voluntary adherence to NSG Guidelines.

We therefore reiterate our call for an equitable, non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach to promote civil nuclear cooperation and membership of export controls regimes, in particular that of the NSG.

Thank you, Mr. President.