[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Pakistan has surpassed India, Iran, and North Korea in effectively managing hazardous materials, according to a recent evaluation by an international organization focused on global nuclear security. The evaluation shows Pakistan’s commendable progress since the last assessment, gaining three additional points and securing the 19th position out of 22 countries on the NTI Nuclear Security Index.
The NTI Nuclear Security Index measures the security of nuclear materials and facilities, adherence to international norms and treaties, regulatory frameworks for nuclear security, and the implementation of best practices to prevent unauthorized access to nuclear weapons or materials. The index, maintained by the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), records how countries handle nuclear material. Pakistan obtained a total score of 49, surpassing India’s score of 40, Iran’s score of 29, and North Korea’s score of 18.
Regarding the security of nuclear facilities, Pakistan ranked 32, sharing the position with Russia and Israel, and outperforming India, Iran, Mexico, South Africa, and other countries on the list of 47 nations. However, the index also highlights concerns about the overall decline in global nuclear security.
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The NTI report points out that, for the first time in 2023, nuclear security conditions were regressing in many countries and areas with weapons-usable nuclear materials and nuclear facilities, after years of reporting flagging progress on nuclear security.
The report also highlights that several countries, including Pakistan, were increasing their stocks of weapon-grade materials, undermining efforts to minimize and eliminate such materials and increasing the risk of theft.
The latest NTI index evaluated the security of highly enriched uranium and plutonium against theft, as well as the security of nuclear facilities against acts of sabotage, considering the potentially dire consequences of radiation release.
In conclusion, while the report acknowledges Pakistan’s significant progress in handling hazardous materials and nuclear security, it also raises important concerns about the overall deterioration of global nuclear security, urging greater efforts to address these challenges.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
