PAKISTAN, as a responsible nuclear power, accords the highest priority to the safety and security of its nuclear installations. It has established and maintained a robust nuclear security regime to protect its nuclear materials and facilities physically.
Although the civilian nuclear programme, or peaceful use of nuclear technology and material have economic benefits, it also creates significant risks in terms of the theft of nuclear material, accidents, or the sabotage of nuclear facilities. Therefore, states with nuclear programs ought to establish nuclear safety regimes to minimize these risks. Nuclear safety and security are fundamentally a national responsibility. States should implement their nuclear security regime in accordance with national laws, international conventions and guidelines.
The nuclear security regime ensures both nuclear safety and security. Nuclear safety involves designing, constructing and operating facilities to protect workers, the public and the environment from accidental radioactive releases. It also includes effective responses to incidents or accidents to minimize radiological and other consequences. Nuclear security refers to measures that prevent individuals or groups with malevolent objectives from harming a facility or stealing nuclear material.
Since the beginning, Pakistan has been following the global safety regime to advance its nuclear security regime. The global safety regime includes internationally accepted safety standards, binding international conventions on nuclear safety and a system of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and peer reviews.
Instead of relying solely on its own inspection system, Pakistan works closely with the IAEA to strengthen its nuclear security regime by comparing it with international best practices. Therefore, it recently invited the IAEA team of experts—the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission—to critically examine the country’s nuclear security regime and help its nuclear establishment further strengthen the national nuclear security regime. The mission provides peer advice on implementing international instruments, along with IAEA guidance on protecting nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities.
The IPPAS mission did a comprehensive 12-day review from September 28 to October 9, 2026, of Pakistan’s nuclear material and facilities. The seven-person review team was led by Khammar Mrabit, former Director General of the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security. It included experts from the People’s Republic of China, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia and two IAEA staff members.
Pakistan is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Although it does not observe the IAEA’s comprehensive safeguards, its entire civilian nuclear program is under the Agency’s safeguards. Besides, it actively participates in the Agency’s activities.
Pakistan is a party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and ratified its 2005 amendment in 2016, which broadens the original scope, establishing obligations to ensure the physical protection of all peaceful nuclear facilities and materials during domestic use, storage, or transport.
The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), in close coordination with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and other relevant national organizations, hosted the IPPAS mission to facilitate a transparent review of Pakistan’s national nuclear security regime. The mission visited the KANUPP Decommissioning Project (KDP) of Karachi Nuclear Power Generating Station (KNPGS). It is the country’s first nuclear power plant that began operating in 1971 and was permanently shut down in 2021.
The IPPAS mission commended Pakistan’s legislative and regulatory framework for nuclear security covering nuclear materials and facilities. On October 9, 2026, Karine Herviou, IAEA deputy director general and head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, said, “The first IPPAS mission in Pakistan is completed successfully, marking the country’s commitment to further enhancing regulatory and operational aspects of its well-established nuclear security regime.” She added, “Pakistan’s contribution to building the skills of the nuclear security workforce is commendable and has a far-reaching impact.”
Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a robust nuclear security regime across facilities and activities has prevented nuclear accidents and security breaches. Consequently, there has been no incident of nuclear material theft or mishandling of nuclear material in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s invitation of the IPPAS mission and allowing it to examine its safety and security reflected the Pakistani nuclear establishment’s confidence in its transparent, responsible and rigorous regulatory oversight and openness to improve its nuclear security regime. The IPPAS mission review report testifies to the credibility of Pakistan’s nuclear security regime.
—The writer is Vice Chancellor of the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.