Pakistan: A responsible nuclear weapon state

The nuclear programme isn’t just weapons weapons or their delivery systems. Pakistan has strengthened the control on exports of nuclear, biological and related materials and their delivery systems through the Export Control act of 2004. The national Control Lists are reviewed periodically as per the changes made by International export control regimes.

To achieve Zero Hunger, it is important to prioritize the preservation of green lands for agricultural production. This can be done through the implementation of policies and regulations that limit the conversion of agricultural land into housing schemes. additionally, efforts can be made to promote sustainable land use practices, such as agroforestry and conservation agriculture. Overall, it is essential to balance the need for housing with the need for agricultural land and to prioritize the achievement of Zero Hunger in all development efforts.

Pakistan is a country that faces significant challenges related to food security and zero hunger. The country has a large population, and a significant proportion of the population lives in poverty. In addition, climate change and environmental degradation pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity in Pakistan.

To address these challenges, it is important to prioritize the preservation of green lands for agricultural production in Pakistan. This can be done through the implementation of policies and regulations that limit the conversion of agricultural land into housing schemes. The government can work with local communities and stakeholders to identify areas of land that are suitable for development and those that should be protected for agricultural purposes.

In addition to preserving green lands, efforts can be made to promote sustainable agricultural practices in Pakistan. This includes investing in irrigation systems and improving soil health, which can help to increase agricultural productivity and reduce the impact of climate change on crop yields. The government can also promote the use of modern agricultural technologies and techniques, such as precision agriculture and conservation agriculture, which can help to reduce inputs and increase yields.

Finally, efforts can be made to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to sufficient and nutritious food in Pakistan. This can be done through the implementation of food assistance programs, nutrition education initiatives, and other policies and programs that promote food security. By prioritizing the preservation of green lands for agricultural production and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, Pakistan can take important steps toward achieving food security, zero hunger and improving the health and well-being of its population.

The writer is Vice Chancellor of the Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan

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Time for reviving Pak-Afghan trade

Tayyaba Khurshid

Many states have used nuclear energy worldwide to overcome energy challenges, and Pakistan’s peaceful nuclear programme is a great success. Realizing the true potential of nuclear energy, Pakistan developed a comprehensive framework for its peaceful use. Pakistan’s nuclear programme is safe and robust. Pakistan has always been a responsible nuclear weapon state and therefore except for baseless allegations, there has never been a single i-stance of theft of nuclear material.

although Pakistan didn’t sign the nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (nPT) due to its deep security concerns, it cooperates and works closely with the International atomic Energy agency (IaEa). The IaEa is an intergovernmental organization that promotes and regulates peaceful use of nuclear energy. Its mandate is to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world.

Pakistan signed a safeguard agreement with the IaEa in 2005 that allows it to inspect Pakistan’s civilian nuclear facilities and their use for peaceful purposes only. It also covers the export and import of nuclear weapons. along with this agreement, Pakistan’s internal nuclear security regime is also comprehensive, including both a legislative and regulatory framework that governs nuclear safety and security. The Pakistan national Command authority is the apex decision-making body in all nuclear related matters with an effective and robust command and control system.

For regulation of nuclear safety and protection of radiation, transport and waste of nuclear material, Pakistan has developed the Pakistan nuclear Regulatory authority (PnRa). The ‘Regulations on Security of Radioactive Sources’ is in line with the IaEa Code of Conduct on nuclear safety and security of radioactive resources and its two supplementary guidance documents.

TheStrategic Export Control Division (SECDIV) looks upon the export controls to monitor the items that can be used for development of nuclear, Chemical or biological

Pakistan has successfully implemented the IaEa nuclear security programme and contributes to and benefits from the IaEa regarding the security of nuclear material as per its mandate.

IaEa Director General Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi recently was in Pakistan for a two-day visit and inspected six nuclear sites of Pakistan. He acknowledged Pakistan’s technical and engineering capacity for new nuclear power plants, including small modular reactors. as Pakistan is the country that suffers most from climate change and energy crisis, hence nuclear energy is the best option for Pakistan to mitigate climate issues and energy crisis. The head of Un’s nuclear watchdog praised Pakistan’s nuclear safety and security along with its technical capacity. He reiterated that “Pakistan has a promising future with regard to nuclear energy”. The IaEa DG’s comments show that Pakistan has adopted an extremely secure and robust mechanism for its nuclear safety and despite the political instability and economic downfall; Pakistan’s nuclear regime is safe and secure. He even termed Pakistan’s civilian nuclear facilities “World Class” and impeccable. Moreover, he acknowledged Pakistan’s nuclear capacity to develop new nuclear plants that will help the state meet its critical energy demands causing a reduction in energy cost and producing clean and environment-friendly energy.

The initial set-up of such plants requires a strong financial backing because they are relatively dearer than other set-ups like fossil fuel power plants. But in the long run the nuclear power plants are relatively cheaper to operate and require specific topography to be safe and functional. The DG’s visit was really a success, projecting a positive image of Pakistan in the nuclear community as he has also approved nuclear facilities and extended support for civilian use of nuclear projects. However, financing of such projects is still a question and that requires a strong economy.

Hence, it is very essential that Pakistan should focus on the restructuring of its finances and capital to improve its economic situation that will solve the other problems. nuclear technology and its peaceful use is what all the states are seeking to improve their energy needs. yet, a strong financial backing to support the nuclear programme for peaceful use is crucial for long term sustenance and stability. The majority of issues that Pakistan is facing today are due to the weakness of the economy. Hence, when the state’s finances will be in order, only then nuclear power can be a long-term solution to our health, environmental and energy problems.

With the multiplicity of challenges that states are facing, nuclear energy remains a suitable option to mitigate issues related to health, agriculture, food and water. Therefore, Pakistan should maximize its cooperation with the IaEa to benefit from its technical cooperation program.

The writer is Researcher at Center For International Strategic Studies, AJK and working on Comprehensive Security and Strategic Stability.

THE afghanistan-Pakistan transit trade agreement is a bilateral pact between the two countries that aims at increasing the flow of commodities between the two countries which approved it in 2010 in the presence of a large number of high-ranking officials and foreign ambassadors.

Given that Pakistan is currently going through an economic crisis, and, on its part, afghanistan has its own share of grave problems, it is the responsibility of the officials and high-level representatives of both the countries to revive the agreement and resume bilateral trade. afghanistan had been granted permission to transit commodities through Pakistan first under a contract signed in 1965, called the afghanistan-Pakistan transit trade (aPTT) agreement, which was cancelled by the rehashed treaty. afghanistan was also offered a tax exemption, under the old agreement, and it used to transport a lot of goods using the port in Karachi. Pakistan, however, did not receive any reciprocal rights. The new trade deal of 2010 was signed after a memorandum of understanding, which, among others, was also attested by the then United States secretary of state, Hillary Clinton. The transit trade agreement of 2010 permits goods transfer between the two countries using each other’s ports, railroads and airports. Under the terms of the agreement, trucks from afghanistan are allowed to enter Chaman, Torkham and Ghulam Muhammad border crossings.

In accordance with this arrangement, afghanistan can send goods to India across the Wagah border, but India cannot send goods back to afghanistan through the same route. Due to the trade agreement, both the countries now have access to markets they did not previously have. afghanistan has access to Indian and other markets by using Pakistani ports, while Pakistan has access to Central asian markets.

In 2015, Tajikistan was initially included in the trade agreement, but afghanistan later withdrew because it wanted to include India before allowing Tajikistan, or any else for that matter, to take part.

In 2017, ashraf Ghani, the then president of afghanistan, cancelled the agreement by issuing an executive order that forbade the transit of Pakistani goods through afghanistan, and declared the agreement null and void. If both countries revive the previous deal, it will create a lot of opportunities for the poor people of the both nations. Besides, it will also bolster the economy of Since Kabul is being run by afghan Taliban and the american forces have left the region, it is now a wonderful opportunity for both the countries to resume bilateral trade and interaction.

AYAZ ALI BHATTI THARI MIRWAH

Census concerns

THE first nationwide digital census is scheduled to get underway next month. It is a midterm census for which the condition of CnIC has been waived off, and the military’s role has been reduced to security affairs.

The relevant authorities would do well to take into consideration the apprehensions expressed by professionals and civil society activists at a recent seminar organised by the Sindh Coordination Council. The elementary issues of transpa-rency and correct headcount need to be given primary value at a time when over a couple of million houses stand damaged and more than 12 million people displaced in Sindh owing to the massive floods that turned life inside out last year. Besides, there is the matter of thousands of illegal immigrants, especially afghans who roam the streets of Karachi and other urban centres. It is primarily the responsibility of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to establish the credibility of the whole process, otherwise, it will be a futile exercise and a sheer waste of public money. DR MEHBOOB SHAIKH KARACHI

inaMullah MarwaT

In the previous semester, I got a chance to teach Peace & Conflict Studies to 7th-semester International Relations students at the Department of Political Science & International Relations in the University of Management & Technology (UMT), Lahore. Together with the syllabus, we explored the attainment of peace and understanding of conflicts in almost all their nuances. The whole experience was enriching for me as a resource person of the course and from the kind of engagement I got from students in class, I am confident to say that it must have contributed to students’ understanding of how to deconstruct conflicts happening all around them and how to deal with them in a way that it leads towards sustainable peace.

I just want to share some insights from some readings written by Professor Bernard Mayer, considered an icon in the world of Conflict Resolution. The reason why I want to share some insights from Mayer’s work is that they provide us with enriching insights into conflicts that we normally face in our day-to-day life, in our society, and usually among states at the international level. I think that a good grasp of Mayer’s insights regarding conflict can not only help us understand all tangents of conflict but can better equip us to deal with them head-on.

Mayer’s first insight is that conflict is an integral part of our human existence. To unpack the first insight, let me share a small concept that I came across while teaching Intelligence & national Security at some point in time in the Spring Semester of 2022.

That concept goes like this. Humans believe in schematic reasoning. In other words, all of us humans have schemas inside us. Schema, in simple words, can be termed any human’s inner software. It develops from your beliefs, likes, dislikes, socialization, books you read, discussions you engage in, movies you watch, and so on. Humans usually accept that information which is in line with their schemas and reject what is not in line.

Since all us humans have different schemas and