Pakistan has established ‘robust’ nuclear security regime, says IAEA after review, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded its first International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission to Pakistan.
• The 12-day mission, conducted from September 28 to October 9, assessed Pakistan's nuclear security framework.
• The IAEA stated that Pakistan has established a "robust nuclear security regime" for protecting nuclear material and facilities.
• The mission reviewed the legislative and regulatory framework and assessed physical protection measures at a nuclear facility.
• The team visited the KANUPP Decommissioning Project at the Karachi Nuclear Power Generating Station.

Detailed Insights:

• The IPPAS mission was undertaken at the request of the Pakistani government and hosted by the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA).
• The IAEA noted that Pakistan's nuclear security regime is continually improved through periodic reviews.
• Pakistan's capacity-building infrastructure contributes to nuclear security expertise at national, regional, and international levels.
• IPPAS missions provide peer advice on implementing international instruments and IAEA guidance on protecting nuclear materials.
• Pakistan is a party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and ratified its 2005 Amendment in 2016.
• The mission team met officials from the PNRA, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), and other stakeholders.
• The KANUPP (Karachi Nuclear Power Plant), Pakistan's first nuclear power plant, began operations in 1971 and was permanently shut down in 2021.
• Experts observed decommissioning activities and spent-fuel storage arrangements at the KANUPP site.

Key Concepts Involved:

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): An intergovernmental organization promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and preventing its military use.
• International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS): An IAEA service assisting member states in strengthening their national nuclear security regimes.
• Nuclear Security Regime: The comprehensive framework of legal, regulatory, and technical measures to prevent nuclear terrorism and unauthorized access to nuclear materials.
• Physical Protection: Measures to prevent unauthorized access to nuclear material and facilities, and to detect and respond to such access.
• Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA): An independent federal agency regulating nuclear safety and radiation protection in Pakistan.
• Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC): A federal agency responsible for research and development of nuclear power and peaceful uses of nuclear technology in Pakistan.