IAEA’s first IPPAS mission to Pakistan concludes; team lauds transparency, professionalism

ISLAMABAD, Oct 09 (APP): The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) Mission to Pakistan concluded here on Friday.

The mission was undertaken at the invitation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It was hosted by the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), in close coordination with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and other relevant national organizations, to facilitate a transparent review of the country’s national nuclear security regime, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs news release said.

The IPPAS team, comprising international experts, reviewed the national legal and regulatory framework governing nuclear security. The team also visited the KANUPP Decommissioning Project (KDP), which covers the former Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Unit-1 (KANUPP-1).

At the conclusion of the mission, the IAEA team expressed appreciation for the cooperation, transparency and professionalism extended by Pakistan throughout the review.

The IPPAS Mission Team Leader said the exercise was very rewarding, as the team had closely examined Pakistan’s nuclear security regime and its practical applications.

The IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security welcomed the successful completion of the first IPPAS mission in Pakistan. He said it marked the country’s commitment to further enhancing the regulatory and operational aspects of its well-established nuclear security regime.

The Agency also acknowledged Pakistan’s sustained commitment to nuclear security and its constructive engagement with the IPPAS process.

Responding to the conclusion of the mission, the PNRA Chairman said Pakistan accorded the highest priority to the safety and security of its nuclear installations. He added that the successful conduct of the mission reflected Pakistan’s transparent, responsible and rigorous regulatory oversight.

He welcomed the valuable interaction and engagement of the IAEA IPPAS team and affirmed that Pakistan stood ready to contribute its expertise to the global nuclear security architecture. He said the country would continue to foster international cooperation for the safe, secure and peaceful application of nuclear technology for socio-economic development.

The IPPAS is a peer review service through which the IAEA assists member states in strengthening their national nuclear security regimes. It provides independent advice on the implementation of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its 2005 Amendment, as well as on relevant international good practices.