Pak. to set up nuclear authority

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JAN. 23. Pakistan has decided to establish a nuclear regulatory authority for regulating and supervising matters relating to nuclear safety and radiation protection measures.

An Ordinance promulgated by the Pakistan President, Mr. Rafiq Tarar, on Monday night is seen as a response to concerns from the West and the environmental groups on issues related to nuclear waste and disposal in Pakistan.

Brig. Shaukat Quadir, Vice-President, Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) told The Hindu that it was a ``good step'' and should go a long way in addressing apprehensions in various quarters about nuclear waste and its disposal.

An advertisement put out by the Pakistan Commerce Ministry a few months inviting tenders from firms for disposal of nuclear waste had created a furore in the West and the Pakistan government had to clarify that the advertisement was put out by ``mistake.''

The proposed Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) will be responsible for planning, developing and executing comprehensive policies and programmes for the protection of life, health and property against the risk of ionizing radiation.

The Authority, comprising a chairman, two full-time and seven part-time members will come into existence within the next 30 days. The federal government will appoint all the members and the authority will look after the safety measures of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The authority will issue licenses to installations where radioactivity is generated and regulate the equipment used for production, use or application of nuclear energy for the generation of electricity or any other use. The authority will be empowered to inspect all nuclear installations, radiation generators, nuclear materials, nuclear substances or radioactive materials to ensure that regulations concerning safety are properly followed.

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