A two-day international seminar on 'The Present and Future of Strategic Export Controls' organized by Strategic Export Control Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, concluded here on Thursday. The seminar was aimed at reinforcing networking among the export control community and strengthening engagements for promoting regional and international cooperation against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their delivery systems.
Independent experts and representatives from different regions and countries, international export control regimes, UNSCR-1540 Committee, academia and industry participated in the seminar.
Several Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) member states were represented in the seminar. Presentations on the latest developments in strategic export controls, strengthening enforcement through compliance, licensing and enforcement challenges and the prospects and challenges for international export control regimes were given by foreign and local experts.
"The event is a demonstration of Pakistan's confidence in its systems and manifestation of its commitment for constructively engaging with the international community in furthering the cause of export controls and non-proliferation," said a Foreign Office press release issued at the conclusion of event.
It stated that the seminar has also afforded an opportunity to create wider understanding about Pakistan's strategic export controls and enforcement practices. Pakistan has the potential to supply NSG list items and, has offered to provide services in nuclear security, export controls and regulatory affairs to other countries under the auspices of the IAEA.
Pakistan's energy shortage and extensive use of nuclear energy for peaceful applications were also highlighted and it was emphasized that membership of multilateral export control regimes should be based on a non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach, it stated, adding narrow-based self-interest should not be allowed to override the larger objective of non-proliferation and security.
"Pakistan stands ready to work with the international community for regional and international security and the socio-economic uplift of the humanity," it added.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua inaugurated the seminar on Wednesday last and highlighted Pakistan's qualification to become member of the NSG and warned that any country-specific exception Group's membership will be detrimental to the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime.
She said that Pakistan has declared voluntary adherence to the guidelines of NSG and has submitted its application for the Group's membership.
"Our application is based on merit and grounded in sound technical capabilities. Pakistan has a complete program to harness the full potential of nuclear energy for peaceful applications," she asserted.
She said that Pakistan possesses the expertise, infrastructure, human resource as well as the ability to supply items listed in NSG Part-I and Part-II, adding that Pakistan has a long tradition of international scientific collaborations.
In addition to being actively involved in IAEA's activities, she said for decades Pakistan has been contributing and regularly participating in the projects of European Organization for Nuclear Research known as CERN and its theoretical and nuclear experiments.
Pakistan became the first country in the region to gain associate membership of CERN in 2014, she said, adding that the country also interacts with the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), CANDU Owners Group and World Nuclear Association with regards to enhancing safety of the nuclear power plants.
"As a country with significant nuclear programme and the ability to supply items controlled by the NSG, Pakistan's participation will further the non-proliferation objectives of the Group," she asserted, adding that Pakistan would be willing to consider any objective and non-discriminatory criteria that the NSG agrees for membership of the non-NPT States, and applies fairly.
However, she said that any country-specific exception for NSG membership, that overrides the long-established principles and norms, will be detrimental to the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime.
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