Pakistan ready to accept IAEA safeguards for civilian Nuke plants

Islamabad, July 23 (UNI) Pakistan today said it was prepared to accept IAEA safeguards for civilian nuclear power plants.

''Our energy needs are increasing and nuclear power generation is part of our strategy for energy security,'' foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said at a press briefing.

As Pakistan will require 8,800 MW of electricity by the year 2020, it has been seeking cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy with several countries including the US. However, none of the states have so far, responded positively to this request apparently, because of involvement of its scientists in the past in the proliferation of nuclear energy to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

She said Pakistan believed that access to civilian nuclear technology should be non-discriminatory and criteria based. As a fast growing economy, she said Pakistan is prepared to accept IAEA safeguard for civlian nuclear power plants.

''We share concerns of security analysts that Indo-US nuclear agreement will boost New Delhi's nuclear weapons capability,'' she said adding that Islamabad would continue to watch the situation closely.

UNI