Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) is the national nuclear statutory body responsible for regulating all aspects of radiation and nuclear safety in the country. PNRA is committed to ensure that safety and security of nuclear and radiation facilities in the country are maintained incessantly. The safety refers to operate a facility in a manner that protects the workers, general public and the environment from harmful effects of radiation, whereas the security aspect refers to protect the facility from potential adversaries who intend to steal nuclear and other radioactive material for malicious purposes or damage the facility and consequently harm the people. Thus, there is synergy between nuclear safety and nuclear security as both are working to assure the peace of mind and quality of life of the individual, the society, country and the globe.
Physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities is one of the important aspect of over all nuclear security arrangement. The genesis of physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities and security of radioactive sources goes back to decades when safety and security was being managed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). IAEA document INFCIRC/225, “Physical protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities” though an Information Circular was used as the basis for inspection and enforcement.
The PNRA Ordinance 2001 empowers PNRA to ensure that appropriate measures for the physical protection of nuclear installations are taken by the licensee. The convention on Physical protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and IAEA document INFCIRC/225 continues to be used as the overarching documents on physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities. On the other hand IAEA Code of Conduct on Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources is being used for regulating radioactive sources. Downstream procedures and checklists are used by inspectors during inspections and enforcement.
In the wake of September 11, 2001 events, PNRA, like many other organizations round the world, felt the need to have a critical look at possible vulnerabilities in its physical protection regime. Since the International Cooperation and experience sharing in the subject area was not so common, therefore, a mechanism based on the gap analysis and IAEA definition of Nuclear Security was evolved which could operate perpetually. On the advice of Government of Pakistan, PNRA initiated Nuclear Security Action Plan (NSAP) project in July 2006. It envisioned developing a sustainable system in nuclear security with the established response and recovery capabilities, integrated with national laws, regulations and procedures. The focus areas of NSAP Project are as follows:
1. Management of Radioactive Sources:
Sealed Radioactive Sources (SRS) of varying categories are used in industry, medicine, research and agriculture for a variety of purposes world wide. PNRA carries out physical protection inspections of radiations facilities. It includes assessment of security levels at the licensed facilities and focuses on identification of weaknesses, propagation of the security culture and up-gradation of the security efforts. To strengthen the effectiveness of this program, capacity of three existing regional directorates has been enhanced, whereas two additional Nuclear Security Inspectorates (RNSIs) have been established at Peshawar and Quetta to complement its vigilance.
2. Locating and Securing Orphan Radioactive Sources
An orphan source is a radioactive source which is not under regulatory control, either because it has never been under regulatory control or because it has been abandoned, lost, misplaced, stolen or otherwise transferred without proper authorization. In Pakistan radioactive sources have been under stringent regulatory control for the last many decades. However, there is likelihood that a few radioactive sources may have been imported before this arrangement. Some of these unaccounted radioactive sources may have been dumped at sites and still present there. Moreover, some radioactive sources may have entered the country through metal scrap and old machinery etc., un-noticed. In this regard, NSAP is striving hard to locate, recover and provide “safe home” to such orphan sources. On receipt of information about the possible presence of any orphan source anywhere in the country , NSAP coordinates the efforts and provides assistance for the recovery and safe disposal of such a source. A media campaign for the awareness of general public about the presence of such orphan sources was also launched by PNRA in 2008.A rigorous search of orphan radioactive sources was carried out at all possible sites .A few sources were recovered and disposed of at designated places.
3. Provision of Radiation Detection Equipment at Strategic Points
Radiation Detection equipment is needed for the better control of Illicit Trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials at strategic points. In this regard, the regulatory body decided to work in liaison with other agencies like Pakistan Customs, because of their inherent functions and legal powers at the borders. Therefore PNRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in 2008. Under the MoU, it was decided that PNRA will provide radiation detection equipment at some of the important entry/exit points of the country, training, maintenance facility and technical assistance to Pakistan Customs to combat this menace. It was also decided that PNRA will provide guidance and assistance to Pakistan Customs to manage seized or confiscated radioactive materials. Under the first phase, eight entry/exit points were selected. These included Torkham, Chamman (Pak-Afghan border), Sost (Pak-China Border), Taftan (Pak-Iran Border), Wagah (Pak-India Border) and sea ports of Gawadar, Karachi and Bin Qasim. NSAP officials provided training and delivered radiation detection equipment to custom officials at these stations. In the second phase, NSAP intends to equip international airports and dry ports with radiation detection equipment.
4. Nuclear Security Emergency Coordination Center (NuSECC)
Nuclear Security Emergency Co-ordination Centre (NuSECC) is established for coordinating efforts in case of a nuclear or Radiological incident at a place out of regulatory control of PNRA. It is designed to act as a support center for other government agencies, responsible for dealing with emergencies. It aims to monitor the progression of the emergency and provide an expert opinion to mitigate the consequences. For this purpose, NuSECC has established a network of six emergency mobile labs. Five out of these are stationed at Islamabad, Kundian, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta and the sixth will be placed at Multan at a later stage. In this way, these mobile labs will be able to respond to a radiological emergency in major cities of the country within four to six hours. These labs are equipped with the state-of-the-art radiation detection equipment to search and survey for radioactive sources and to measure the radiation hazard level. NuSECC is manned round the clock and can be accessed at toll free number 080077766 from any where in the country.
5. Nuclear Security Training Center
Nuclear Security Training Center (NSTC) is established at PNRA Head Quarters with the help of IAEA. The NSTC is providing training in the field of nuclear security with a comprehensive approach of prevention, detection of and response to a malicious acts as the first, second, and third line of defense. With a vision of capacity building, a large number of personnel from different national organizations have been trained through numerous training courses. It includes officials from nuclear power plants, users/operators of radiation sources/facilities, policy makers, front line officers, first responders, officials from intelligence agencies & law enforcing authorities, trainers & other professional educators.
Nuclear Security Training Center has established a laboratory equipped with highly advanced radiation detection equipment to provide hands-on training. Under the aegis of PNRA-IAEA program in strengthening the physical protection and nuclear security regime, PNRA is in the process of establishing physical protection labs also. These labs will be used to impart trainings to officials dealing with physical protection system of different facilities.
PNRA-NSAP, in collaboration with Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), has introduced a specialized subject of Nuclear Security in MS Nuclear Engineering Programme of PIEAS to ensue its long term policy of developing nuclear security expertise in the country at graduate level. This is the first such course in Pakistan.