President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said Pakistan stands as a respectable nuclear state having excellent safety and security standards at all nuclear power plants.
"Pakistan's nuclear safety regulatory infrastructure is effective, functional, and respected by the world bodies," the President said, while addressing the gathering at Chashma Nuclear Plant-II after performing Containment Dome Placement ceremony.
The President, who is also chairman of the National Command Authority, said the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) should work in unison towards the cherished goal.
He applauded both the PAEC and the PNRA in understanding, implementing, and meeting the nuclear safety and physical security requirements of the nuclear power plants in the country.
The President said it was gratifying to note that excellent safety and security standards were being maintained at the country's existing nuclear power plants at Kanupp and Chasnupp-I.
The 325 MW capacity plant being built with Chinese collaboration and technical assistance is likely to be completed by the end of 2010, as it is moving ahead of schedule. The Dome Placement event is the most important milestone in the construction phases of a nuclear power plant.
President Musharraf said the government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to expand power generation to meet the demands for the country's rapidly growing economy. The PAEC has been given the task of increasing nuclear power generation, in accordance with the country's energy security plan.
He said that in addition to the conventional and renewable power generation sources, nuclear technology has a major role in the power generation in the country.
The President said the world was realising the promise and potential of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and advancement in design and management has enhanced the safety of nuclear plants. He thanked the People's Republic of China, a time-tested friend, for its collaboration and technical assistance in various development projects, including nuclear power generation.
President Musharraf said that his personal relations with China's President Hu Jintao have given these projects momentum and impetus. He said the Chashma Power Plant along with numerous other development projects in the country were a living testament to Pak-China friendship.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) Vice President Yu Jian Feng said the Dome Placement will mark the transfer of the project from the civil works stage to full swing equipment installation.
He said that in view of the excellent co-operation between CNNC and PAEC, the Chashma-II Power Plant would emerge as another befitting example of the friendship between the two countries.
The Vice Minister, Costind, China, Chen Qiu Fa, said the engineers of Pakistan and China have greatly benefited from each other over the years and draw on the expertise of each other in the service of their countries and humanity. He said the successful construction of Chasnupp has become "good model of south-south co-operation."
Earlier, PAEC Chairman Anwar Ali, in his address of welcome, said the Commission has been assigned to produce 8800 MW of nuclear by the year 2030 and work was on to achieve the target.
"We plan to enhance indigenous contribution to each new plant and facilities and infrastructure for this purpose are being developed," said Anwar Ali said. He also spoke of the PAEC contribution to diverse domains of agriculture, health, research, and human resource development for the socio-economic development of the country.
The ceremony was attended by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Director General Strategic Planning Division, Ambassador of China to Pakistan, and other high civil and military officials, as well as a large number of scientists, engineers and Chinese and Pakistani workers of the plant.