Nuclear Energy in Pakistan
Nuclear Energy in Pakistan
Research Report
INTRODUCTION
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is technologically one of the most advanced countries among the predominantly Muslim states in the world. Still, it is far from a technologically developed country. Its population is growing rather fast, which makes it very difficult to increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Per capita consumption of power is among the lowest in the world; so there is a vast potential for development. As a poor and developing country, Pakistan looked forward to exploiting the great potential of atomic energy and technology for giving an impetus to its progress.
Since the late 1930’s, the release of energy from the fission of uranium nuclei is known to be a vast source of energy. The reserves of uranium seem to promise abundant energy for many centuries. But due to the very high amount of energy which can be released by a small amount of matter, uranium is also a very potent basis for weapons. Besides energy, such weapons induce great human sufferings due to the release of radioactivity. This was demonstrated at the end of World War II. Since then, this threat has remained at the centre of the defence strategies in the world’s super powers. To retain their strategic advantage, countries which already have nuclear weapons wish to ensure that other countries should not get the technologies, which could be used for developing nuclear weapons, even though they may need it for peaceful uses such as nuclear power. The realization of the great potential of atomic energy for peaceful purposes has thus been overshadowed by this threat. So far, there is no technology for nuclear power which completely excludes the possibility of misuse for the development of nuclear weapons. An international system of safeguards and inspections has been developed through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify that nuclear materials in nuclear power
Research Report
INTRODUCTION
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is technologically one of the most advanced countries among the predominantly Muslim states in the world. Still, it is far from a technologically developed country. Its population is growing rather fast, which makes it very difficult to increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Per capita consumption of power is among the lowest in the world; so there is a vast potential for development. As a poor and developing country, Pakistan looked forward to exploiting the great potential of atomic energy and technology for giving an impetus to its progress.
Since the late 1930’s, the release of energy from the fission of uranium nuclei is known to be a vast source of energy. The reserves of uranium seem to promise abundant energy for many centuries. But due to the very high amount of energy which can be released by a small amount of matter, uranium is also a very potent basis for weapons. Besides energy, such weapons induce great human sufferings due to the release of radioactivity. This was demonstrated at the end of World War II. Since then, this threat has remained at the centre of the defence strategies in the world’s super powers. To retain their strategic advantage, countries which already have nuclear weapons wish to ensure that other countries should not get the technologies, which could be used for developing nuclear weapons, even though they may need it for peaceful uses such as nuclear power. The realization of the great potential of atomic energy for peaceful purposes has thus been overshadowed by this threat. So far, there is no technology for nuclear power which completely excludes the possibility of misuse for the development of nuclear weapons. An international system of safeguards and inspections has been developed through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify that nuclear materials in nuclear power
References: (1)http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C05%5C13%5Cstory_13-5-2011_pg1_7 (2)http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C05%5C13%5Cstory_13-5-2011_pg1_7 Note: Rest of the facts and figures and information are taken from these sites, books and newspapers. NUCLEAR POWER IN PAKISTAN BY ZIA H. SIDDIQUI and I.H. QURESHI. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf108.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_Pakistan Pakistan’s Nuclear Development by Ashok Kapur. (In Urdu language). Jang News (Islamabad: Jang Group of Newspapers): pp. 3–4. Retrieved 2011 (march 20 2011) Daily Jang (Sunday, February 27, 2011) pg 3-4. 1998: World fury at Pakistan 's nuclear tests.