ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s nuclear security framework has received a positive assessment from an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert team following the country’s first-ever International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission, which reviewed the legal, regulatory and operational arrangements for protecting nuclear materials and facilities.
The 12-day mission concluded that Pakistan had established a robust nuclear security regime and found that its security framework was appropriately implemented at the specific nuclear facility visited by the experts. The team also noted that the regime was continually strengthened through periodic reviews and supported by an established capacity-building infrastructure.
According to an IAEA statement issued on Friday, the seven-member international mission was led by Khammar Mrabit, former Director General of Morocco’s Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security. The team included experts from China, Romania, Russia and Slovakia, alongside two IAEA staff members.
Following the assessment, the experts provided recommendations to further strengthen Pakistan’s nuclear security arrangements and associated procedures. They also identified several good practices at both regulatory and facility levels.
Karine Herviou, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, said the successful completion of the first IPPAS mission in Pakistan demonstrated the country’s commitment to strengthening the regulatory and operational aspects of its nuclear security regime. She also commended Pakistan’s contribution to developing nuclear security expertise and workforce capabilities.
The mission was hosted by the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) at the government’s request to support further improvements in the national nuclear security framework.
PNRA Chairman Zia Hussain Shah said the review provided valuable international feedback on the country’s physical protection measures and established a baseline for strengthening its legal, regulatory and facility-level practices.
IPPAS missions enable countries to assess their nuclear security arrangements against international instruments and IAEA guidance. International experts examine physical protection systems, identify good practices and recommend improvements tailored to national requirements and individual facilities.
During the mission, the experts met representatives of the PNRA, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and other relevant national stakeholders. They also visited the Kanupp Decommissioning Project at the Karachi Nuclear Power Generating Station, the site of Pakistan’s first nuclear power plant.
The Canadian Deuterium Uranium reactor began operating in 1971 and was permanently shut down in 2021. The visit enabled the experts to observe decommissioning activities and arrangements for spent nuclear fuel storage.
Pakistan is a party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and ratified its 2005 amendment in 2016. The amendment expanded the convention’s scope by establishing obligations concerning the physical protection of peaceful nuclear facilities and materials during domestic use, storage and transport.
PNRA and IAEA Conclude Workshop on Nuclear Safety Equipment
Separately, the PNRA, in collaboration with the IAEA, has concluded a five-day national workshop on Commercial Grade Item Dedication for nuclear safety-related applications.
Organised by the National Institute of Safety and Security, an IAEA Collaboration Centre, the workshop brought together regulatory personnel, nuclear installation operators and supply chain stakeholders to examine the qualification of commercially manufactured components for use in nuclear safety systems.
Speaking at the closing session, PNRA Executive Member Shahid Rashid emphasised the importance of reliable and qualified equipment in ensuring the safe operation of nuclear installations.
He noted that technological advancements, equipment obsolescence and changes in global supply chains could affect the availability of specialised nuclear-grade components. Commercial Grade Item Dedication, he explained, provides a mechanism for establishing confidence that commercially available products meet the technical and safety requirements of their intended applications.
The PNRA said the workshop would help strengthen national capabilities in nuclear safety, equipment qualification and supply chain oversight, while supporting compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and international good practices.
Story by Amin Ahmed
