WASHINGTON – Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi said on Friday that Pakistan had an effective emergency response mechanism, including a nuclear emergency management system to ensure security of nuclear materials.
While addressing a dinner hosted by United States President Obama in Washington, the special assistant said that a Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Support Center and a Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Coordination Center worked round the clock.
He said that nuclear materials must never fall into the wrong hands and this was a global concern which Pakistan fully shared. He said that the radioactive sources were being employed everywhere in the private sector including hospitals, industry and research.
Fatemi said that an emergency preparedness and response constituted an effective deterrence against malicious acts and this required significant training efforts, including those by nuclear security centers developed by states. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm resolve to continue efforts to eliminate terrorism.
Talking to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of Nuclear Security Summit, he said that terrorism posed a common threat to both Pakistan and China. He said that Pakistan-China all-weather friendship and strategic partnership had been strengthened through numerous bilateral projects, particularly China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He said that the CPEC would not only contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the people of Pakistan and China, but also to that of the entire region.
Outlining the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s vision for a peaceful neighborhood and greater regional connectivity, he said that numerous initiatives were being taken by Pakistan for regional peace and stability which would enhance economic and trade potential of the region.
The Chinese foreign minister reaffirmed China’s commitment for early completion of the CPEC related initiatives. Issues pertaining to disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation also came under discussion during the meeting.
Meanwhile, Fatemi also held a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in which Issues pertaining to bilateral cooperation in economy, defence, and other areas of bilateral interest came under discussion.
They also exchanged views on matters of regional and international importance, including issues regarding disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in the backdrop of the Nuclear Security Summit.
