Chashma nuclear plant a giant step forward: PM

CHASHMA—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday described Chashma nuclear power project as a milestone in the history of nuclear technology in the country and an important step forward towards securing energy security.
Speaking at the Concrete Pouring ceremony of Chashma-2, some 25 kilometers away from Mianwali, he also termed the project as yet another landmark in Pakistan-China relations.
“Chashma-2 symbolizes the deep interest China has in our development. In many ways, it is a concrete manifestation of the resolve of our peoples to further enrich their traditional and well established partnership for peace and development,” he said.
Prime Minister Aziz said the Chashma project was an important step forward towards energy security, adding, Pakistan was planning to produce 8800 MW of nuclear power in the next 25 years.
Pakistan, he said, wanted nuclear power as it was though highly capital intensive but cheap, reliable, and environment friendly.
Nevertheless, this production will contribute only 8% of the total electricity production by the year 2030, he added.
Chinese Minister, Commission of Science and Technology and Industry for National Defence and Chairman China Atomic Energy Authority, Sun Qin, President, China National Nuclear Corporation Kang Rixin, General Ehsan ul Haq, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Parvez Butt, Chairman, PAEC and Lt Gen Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Director General Strategic Plans Division also attended the ceremony.
Prime Minister Aziz said Pakistan’s nuclear programme is for peaceful purpose.
He underlined an effective command and control authority, which Pakistan has established to ensure the safety and security of its strategic assets.” We have also adopted wide ranging controls to prevent leakage of nuclear materials”. Prime Minister Aziz said Pakistan’s nuclear power plants were under IAEA’s safeguards internationally and the country’s track record of compliance had been excellent. The Prime Minister emphaissed that Pakistan needed these plants for the socio-economic development of its people.
He said the government had been making strenuous efforts over the past six years to reform, reinvigorate and reposition the country across the entire spectrum of economic growth and to meet the challenges of development and progress in the 21 century and exploit opportunities unleashed by the globalization. “We are aiming at raising the income level and living standards of our people,” he added.
In the economic field, Prime Minister Aziz said the government was pursuing a policy of liberalization, de- regulation and privatization accompanied by multi-sectoral reforms and restructuring leading to a high growth trajectory. Last year, Pakistan achieved a growth rate of 8.4 percent and the government was targetting 6 to 8 per cent growth over the next five years.—APP