An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team has successfully completed its first International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission in Pakistan, recognizing the nation’s well-established nuclear security system while recommending further improvements to its regulatory and operational procedures.
The 12-day mission, conducted from September 28 to October 9 at the request of the Pakistani government, evaluated the country’s legislative and regulatory framework for safeguarding nuclear materials and facilities. It also assessed security measures at a specific nuclear site, an official statement released on Friday.
Hosted by the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), the mission involved consultations with officials from the regulator, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, and other relevant national stakeholders.
The seven-member team visited the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant’s decommissioning project, Pakistan’s first nuclear power facility, to observe ongoing decommissioning activities and the management of spent nuclear fuel. The plant’s Canadian Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor began operations in 1971 and was permanently shut down in 2021.
The IAEA team found that Pakistan has developed a robust nuclear security regime for the physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities. The security arrangements at the visited facility were effectively implemented and met international standards.
Furthermore, the team noted that Pakistan’s nuclear security framework is maintained through regular reviews and supported by a comprehensive capacity-building infrastructure that leverages national, regional, and international expertise.
Recommendations and suggestions were provided to enhance the country’s nuclear security regime and related procedures, alongside identifying good practices at both regulatory and facility levels.
IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, Karine Herviou, stated that completing the first IPPAS mission demonstrates Pakistan’s dedication to strengthening both regulatory and operational aspects of its nuclear security framework. At the mission’s closing ceremony, Herviou also praised Pakistan’s role in advancing nuclear security expertise, noting its influence extends beyond national borders.
PNRA Chairman Zia Hussain Shah emphasized that hosting the mission underscores Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining nuclear security across all facilities and activities. He added that the international experts’ recommendations will serve as a foundation for further enhancing the country’s legal and regulatory framework, national nuclear security regime, and facility-level practices.
Shah reaffirmed PNRA’s commitment to collaborating with the IAEA and national stakeholders to continuously improve nuclear security infrastructure in alignment with international guidance.
Pakistan is a party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and ratified its 2005 Amendment in 2016. This amendment broadened the convention’s scope and established obligations for the physical protection of nuclear material and facilities used for peaceful purposes, including materials in domestic use, storage, and transport.
The IAEA noted that this mission was the 112th conducted under the IPPAS programme since its inception in 1995. The programme offers international peer advice to countries aiming to strengthen their nuclear security arrangements by assessing national systems against international standards and good practices, providing recommendations for improvement.
