Pak unveils plans to acquire nuke power plants

Islamabad, Sept.19 : Pakistan today unveiled plans to acquire more nuclear plants and a satellite communications system.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced the setting up of a committee to work out modalities for the purchases after being briefed on strategic projects by top officials.

An official statement said the committee to "work out the modalities and financial arrangements before a formal decision is made on the purchase of nuclear energy plants and a satellite communication system."

The statement did not give details of the nuclear power plants or satellite systems to be acquired by Pakistan.

The committee comprises the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission; the Secretaries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Water and Power; and the chief of the Strategic Plans Division, the body that manages Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Tariq Majeed; Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Salman Faruqui and the Director General of the Strategic Plans Division, Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Kidwai briefed Prime Minister Gilani on the nuclear energy and satellite communication projects.

Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Finance Minister Naveed Qamar, federal secretaries and senior government officials, also attended the meeting.

ANI