'Pakistan committed to non-proliferation goals'

Islamabad, Apr 4: Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and said its record as a responsible nuclear-capable nation is impeccable.

The reiteration came as Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan inaugurated the Wide Area Network (WAN), of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Implementation Mechanism of Pakistan here yesterday. Director General Strategic Plans Division Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai and senior officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Strategic Plans Division and other departments were also present.

Pakistan became a Party to the CWC on 28 October 1997. Pursuant to the Convention, Pakistan has to transmit data relating to import/export of certain categories of chemicals on annual basis to the OPCW.

''The establishment of the CWC Implementation Mechanism at Pakistan's own initiative underscores its commitment to the non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said in Islamabad.

The WAN will automate the collection of import/export data from the chemical industries of Pakistan and preparation of declarations for submission to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), located in The Hague.

UNI