IAEA Experts Recognise Pakistan’s Nuclear Security Framework After First IPPAS Review
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: An international team of nuclear security experts has concluded Pakistan’s first International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission, finding that the country has established a robust framework for protecting nuclear materials and facilities.
The 12-day review, conducted under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), examined Pakistan’s legal and regulatory arrangements for nuclear security and assessed their implementation at a selected civilian nuclear facility.
The mission concluded with recommendations for further improvements and identified several examples of good practice.
Seven-Member International Team Conducts Review
The mission involved seven experts led by Khammar Mrabit, a former head of Morocco’s nuclear and radiological safety regulator.
The team included specialists from China, Romania, Russia and Slovakia, alongside two IAEA staff members.
Hosted by the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) at the government’s request, the mission assessed national nuclear security arrangements against relevant international guidance.
The experts found that Pakistan’s physical protection framework was well established and appropriately implemented at the facility they visited.
IAEA Recognises Security Measures, Recommends Improvements
The review acknowledged Pakistan’s arrangements for protecting nuclear materials and facilities, including the role of regulatory oversight and specialist training.
The team also identified opportunities to strengthen security regulations and operational procedures.
IAEA Deputy Director General Karine Herviou welcomed the completion of the mission and recognised Pakistan’s contribution to developing nuclear security expertise.
PNRA Chairman Zia Hussain Shah said the findings would help improve the country’s legal and regulatory framework and strengthen protection measures.
The recommendations demonstrate that the assessment was designed to identify both established practices and areas requiring further work.
Experts Visit Karachi Nuclear Facility
As part of the mission, the experts visited the KANUPP Decommissioning Project at the Karachi Nuclear Power Generating Station.
The facility housed Pakistan’s first nuclear power reactor, which began operating in 1971 and was permanently shut down in 2021.
The visit allowed the team to observe decommissioning activities and arrangements for storing spent nuclear fuel.
The review also involved discussions with the PNRA, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and other relevant institutions.
Pakistan’s International Nuclear Security Obligations
Pakistan is a party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and ratified its 2005 amendment in 2016.
The amended convention extends physical protection obligations to nuclear facilities and materials used, stored or transported domestically for peaceful purposes.
IPPAS missions are advisory peer reviews intended to help countries strengthen their physical protection systems.
They are distinct from nuclear safeguards inspections, which focus on verifying that nuclear material is not diverted from declared peaceful uses.
Separate Nuclear Safety Workshop Concludes
The PNRA also completed a five-day workshop organised with the IAEA on the qualification of commercially manufactured equipment for nuclear safety applications.
The programme brought together regulators, nuclear installation operators and supply-chain representatives.
Participants discussed methods for assessing whether commercial-grade components can meet requirements for safety-related use in nuclear installations.
Review Marks a First for Pakistan
The completed mission represents Pakistan’s first comprehensive IPPAS review of its national nuclear security framework.
Its findings recognise existing physical protection measures while providing recommendations for further strengthening them.
The assessment should not be interpreted as an unconditional certification of every nuclear facility in Pakistan or as a review of the country’s nuclear weapons programme.
