Pakistan has set up "Strategic Export Control Division" in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formulate and control laws, rules and regulations to implement the Export Control Act 2004.
In her weekly news briefing here on Monday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that the government had taken a number of measures to control export of strategic goods, technologies, materials etc, including enactment of the Export Control Act 2004.
She said that the prime minister had now approved a summary for the establishment of a national export control authority and its oversight board, which would be named Strategic Export Control Division. The Oversight Board has already been constituted to oversee establishment of the Strategic Control Export Division, which would also act as the licensing body.
She said that SCED would be manned by the representatives of the concerned ministries and organisations responsible for implementation and enforcement of export control, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Strategic Plan Division, Ministry of Commerce, Central Board of Revenue and others as notified.
Tasnim said that in October 2005, Pakistan notified the control list of goods, technologies, material and equipment, which incorporate internationally accepted standard list of nuclear supply group (NSG) and the Australian Group dealing with biological agents etc, and nuclear technology control regime (NCR).
She clarified that exports of items on the control list of Pakistan would be only possible after approval by the Strategic Export Control Division. The spokesperson said that the introduction of Export Control Act, notification of National Control List and establishment of Strategic Export Control Division were continuing manifestation of Pakistan's strong commitment to non-proliferation and its determination to fulfil its national and international export control commitments.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan had seen many positive elements in the recent statements of the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, towards the resolution of the long outstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.
She noted that a number of steps were being taken to resolve the problem. Pakistan and India were talking to find a settlement of Jammu and Kashmir, which was acceptable to the Kashmiri people, she added. About President Musharraf's statement that a solution to the J&K dispute was imminent, the spokesperson said that the nation would be taken into confidence at the appropriate time.
She said that under the fourth round of composite dialogue, working groups of Pakistan and India on Sir Creek would hold talks in Islamabad on May 16, 17 and the working groups on Wuller Barrage would hold talks in New Delhi on June 26 & 27.