Pakistan’s nuclear security passes landmark IAEA...

Summary

• Pakistan’s nuclear security framework has received a positive assessment from an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert mission following a 12-day review of the country’s legal, regulatory and physical protection arrangements.
• The agency’s International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) conducted its first-ever mission to Pakistan to assess the systems used to protect nuclear materials and facilities.
• IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security Karine Herviou said the successful completion of the first IPPAS mission marked an important step in Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen the regulatory and operational aspects of its nuclear security system.

AI Generated Summary

Pakistan’s nuclear security framework has received a positive assessment from an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert mission following a 12-day review of the country’s legal, regulatory and physical protection arrangements.

The agency’s International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) conducted its first-ever mission to Pakistan to assess the systems used to protect nuclear materials and facilities. The team described the country’s nuclear security regime as robust and found that the framework was being appropriately implemented at the facility it visited.

The assessment also identified areas where Pakistan could further strengthen its nuclear security arrangements. The experts provided recommendations to improve existing regulations, procedures and operational practices. They also highlighted several good practices at both the regulatory and facility levels.

According to the IAEA, Pakistan regularly reviews its nuclear security arrangements to support continued improvement. The country also has an established training and capacity-building system that contributes to developing expertise in nuclear security at national, regional and international levels.

The seven-member expert mission was led by Khammar Mrabit, former director general of Morocco’s Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security. The team included specialists from China, Romania, Russia and Slovakia, along with two IAEA officials.