Ambassador Munir Akram told the United Nations General Assembly that Pakistan considers the safety and security of its nuclear power program a national responsibility. He emphasized the need to remove barriers for gaining equitable and non-discriminatory access to civil nuclear cooperation. Pakistan is committed to international instruments related to nuclear safety and security, and has a framework that complies with the highest global standards.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi presented a report on the agency’s work, including in Ukraine, Iran, and North Korea, as well as the development and transfer of nuclear technologies for peaceful applications. Ambassador Akram highlighted Pakistan’s experience in operating a secure and safeguarded nuclear power program, with six nuclear power plants and plans for another.
He stressed the importance of removing barriers to equitable access to civil nuclear cooperation, stating that all states should comply with their safeguards obligations. He also emphasized that the IAEA’s verification regime should be applied on a non-discriminatory basis. Pakistan places a high priority on nuclear safety and security and proposed convening a special session of the General Assembly to establish a new consensus on disarmament and non-proliferation.