As of 2012, nuclear power in Pakistan is
provided by 3 licensed-commercial
nuclear power plants. Pakistan is the
first Muslim country in the world to
construct and operate civil nuclear
power plants. The Pakistan Atomic Energy
Commission, the scientific and nuclear
governmental agency, is solely
responsible for operating these power
plants. As of 2012, the electricity
generated by commercial nuclear power
plants constitutes roughly ~3.6% of
electricity generated in Pakistan,
compared to ~62% from fossil fuel, ~33%
from hydroelectric power and ~0.3% from
coal electricity. Pakistan is not a
party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty but is a member of the
International Atomic Energy Agency.
Pakistan plans on constructing 32
nuclear power plants by 2050.
History 
Professor Abdus Salam, as Science
Advisor to the President, persuaded
President Ayub Khan, to establish
Pakistan's first commercial nuclear
power reactor, near Karachi. Known as
Karachi Nuclear Power Plant, the
commercial power plant is a small 137
MWe CANDU reactor, a Canadian
pressurized heavy water reactor.
PAEC's Parvez Butt, a nuclear engineer,
was project-director. The KANUPP began
its operations in 1972, and it was
inaugurated by President Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto and Munir Ahmad Khan as PAEC
chairman. The KANUPP which is under
international safeguards is operated at
reduced power. In 1969, France's
Commissariat à l'énergie atomique and
United Kingdom's British Nuclear Fuels
plc contracted with PAEC to provide
plutonium and nuclear reprocessing
plants in Pakistan. Per agreement, the
PAEC engineers were the lead designers
of the power plants and nuclear
reprocessing facilities. While the BNFL
and CEA provided the funds, technical
assistance and nuclear materials. The
work on projects did not start until
1972, and as a result of India's
Operation Smiling Buddha — a surprise
nuclear test in 1974 — the BNFL
cancelled the projects with PAEC. In
1974, PARR-II Reactor were commissioned,
and its project directors were Munir
Ahmad Khan and Hafeez Qureshi. The
PARR-II is an indigenous reactor that
was built under the auspices of PAEC's
engineers and scientists.
In 1977, due to pressure exerted by U.S.
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the
CEA cancelled the projects with PAEC
immediately. Without the assistance of
United Kingdom and France, the PAEC
engineers completed the plutonium
nuclear reprocessing plant — New Labs —
and the plutonium reactor — Khushab
Nuclear Complex. Both power plants are
commercial power plants control by PAEC.
In 1989, People's Republic of China
signed an agreement with Pakistan to
provide 300 MWe CHASNUPP-I power plant
under the IAEA safeguards. In 1990, both
France and Soviet Union considered the
Pakistan's request to provide the
commercial nuclear power plants under
the IAEA safeguards. But, after the
American Ambassador to Pakistan's Robert
Oakley expressed U.S. displeasure at the
agreements between the Soviet Union and
France, the contracts were cancelled. By
the 2000, China had expanded its
contract with PAEC and is currently
assisting in construction of III, and IV
power plants. II was completed in April
2011. Due to its growing electricity
demands, the Pakistan Government ordered
PAEC to set up nuclear power plants in
the country. According to PAEC, the goal
is to produced 8800 MW electricity by
the 2030. Prime minister Yousaf Raza
Gillani announced the Pakistan national
energy policy in 2010 while the
feasibility report was submitted in
Prime Minister's Secretariat — the
official residence of prime minister of
Pakistan. The PAEC are currently
planning to lead the construction of
KANUPP-II nuclear power plant — a 1100
MWe power plant — and the KANUPP-III —
1100 MWe. While the commercial plants
will be indigenously built, the
preliminary work is put on hold as of
2009. In 2010, the Nuclear Power Fuel
Complex — a nuclear reprocessing power
plant — was commissioned. PAEC led the
construction, designing, and maintenance
of the facility, while China and IAEA
provided funds to the facility. On 26
November 2013 prime minister Nawaz
Sharif performed groundbreaking ceremony
for two nuclear power plants with a
combined capacity of 2200 MW near
Karachi.
Pakistan nuclear power reactors 
As of today, only three commercial
nuclear power plants are currently
operating. The following list provides
information about current and future
commercial nuclear power plants.
International co-operation 
= People's Republic of China =
The People's Republic of China has been
a strong vocal and avid supporter of
Pakistan's nuclear power generation
programme from the early on. The history
of Chinese-Pakistan cooperation dates
back to the 1970s when Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto, as prime minister, first visited
China. The strong academic interaction
between Chinese and Pakistan scientists
was begun in the 1970s. In 1986, the
scientists from KRL and military
engineers of Pakistan Army Engineering
Corps built a HEU enrichment plant in
Hanzhong province of PRC, and provided
technical assistance to China in
weapon-grade centrifuge technology for
Chinese nuclear weapons. From the 1980s
to the present, China has contracted
with Pakistan to use of civil and
electricity purpose use of nuclear
technology.
As of 1990 contract, the second
commercial nuclear power plant is
CHASNUPP-I in Punjab—a 325 MWe
PWR—supplied by China's CNNC under IAEA
safeguards. The main part of the plant
was designed by Shanghai Nuclear
Engineering Research and Design
Institute, based on Qinshan Nuclear
Power Plant. The commercial nuclear
power plant began its operations May
2000. In 2005, China expanded its
contract with Pakistan, and vowed to
build more nuclear power plants in
Pakistan. Construction of its twin,
CHASNUPP-II, started in December 2005.
It is reported to cost PkR 51.46
billion. In a meeting with IAEA, an IAEA
safeguard agreement with PAEC and IAEA
was signed in 2006, and the grid
connection is expected in spring of
2011. The enriched fuel takes place in
Pakistan's PNPFC facility, which is also
under IAEA safeguards.
In 2005, both Pakistan government and
the Chinese government adopted an Energy
Security Plan, calling for a huge
increase in generating capacity to more
than 160,000 MWe by 2030. Pakistan
Government plans for lifting nuclear
capacity to 8800 MWe, 900 MWe of it by
2015 and a further 1500 MWe by 2020.
Plans included four further Chinese
reactors of 300 MWe each and seven of
1000 MWe, all PWR. There were tentative
plans for China to build two 1000 MWe
PWR units at Karachi as KANUPP II and
III, but China then in 2007 deferred
development of its CNP-1000 type which
is the only one able to be exported.
However, Last November 2012, China
rolled out its new advanced 1000 MW
pressurised water nuclear power reactor,
ACPR-1000 at the Hi-Tech Fair in
Shenzhen. This reactor was
"independently" developed by China
Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation with
full IPR and made its debut at the 13th
China Hi-Tech Fair, according to the
official media. Since this reactor has
been developed by China independently
without the involvement of foreign
suppliers, it is quite likely that China
will export this reactor to Pakistan.
PAEC is now currently preparing reports
and planning to set up small but more
commercial nuclear power plants
indigenously.
In June 2008, the Pakistan Government
announced plans to build commercial
nuclear power plants III and IV
commercial nuclear power plants at
Chashma, Punjab Province, each with
320–340 MWe and costing PKR 129 billion,
80 billion of this from international
sources, principally China. A further
agreement for China's help with the
project was signed in October 2008, and
given prominence as a counter to the
US–India agreement shortly preceding it.
Cost quoted then was US$ 1.7 billion,
with a foreign loan component of $1.07
billion.
In March 2009, SNERDI announced that it
was proceeding with design of
CHASNUPP-III and IV, with China
Zhongyuan Engineering as the general
contractor. The PAEC said Beijing was
financing 85% of the US$ 1.6 billion
project. Contracts for CHASNUPP-I and II
were signed in 1990 and 2000, before
2004 when China joined the Nuclear
Suppliers Group, which maintains an
embargo on sales of nuclear equipment to
Pakistan, but there are questions about
China's supply of Chasma-3 and 4. On 24
September 2010, China informed the IAEA
that it will implement an agreement with
Pakistan on the export of two nuclear
reactors for Islamabad's Chashma nuclear
complex. Beijing has said that the
reactor deal is part of a 2003 agreement
between the two countries, a claim many
have questioned, though Germany has
accepted. These will be the third and
fourth reactors at the complex.
According to the Chinese communication
to the IAEA, the reactors will be placed
under international safeguards. Concerns
have been expressed over the lack the
safety features incorporated into the
Chashma-3 and Chashma-4 reactors, which
are alleged to use a design which is not
considered safe enough to build in
China.
In March 2013, Pakistan and China agreed
to build a 1000 MW CHASNUPP-5 at Chashma
Nuclear Power Complex. In July 2013, it
was announced that Pakistani officials
were considering approval of KANUPP-2, a
1,000 megawatt reactor to be built with
assistance from China.
= France =
In May 2009, France agreed to cooperate
with Pakistan on nuclear safety, which
Pakistan's Foreign Minister called a
'significant development' related to the
transfer of civilian nuclear technology
to Pakistan. But later a spokesman for
the French presidency was careful to
rein in expectations, saying Mr Sarkozy
had "confirmed France was ready, within
the framework of its international
agreements, to co-operate with Pakistan
in the field of nuclear safety." In
October 2013, French Ambassador Philippe
Thiebaud said "my country is ready to
consider the request for enhancing civil
nuclear cooperation in line with
international obligations."
= United States =
In a U.S.–Pakistan strategic dialogue on
24 March 2010, Pakistan pressed for a
civil nuclear cooperation deal similar
to that with India. One analyst
suggested that such a deal was
unrealistic at present but might be
possible in 10–15 years.
= Japan =
In 2011, Dr. Irfan Yusuf Shami, the
Director-General of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Makyo
Maya Gawa, the Director-General of
Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
Department of the Japanese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs signed an agreement for
nuclear non-proliferation in Tokyo. Both
countries agreed on maintaining
stability in South Asia.
In 2011, during the state visit of
President Asif Zardari, Pakistan sought
civil nuclear power cooperation with
Japan, similarly to a previous deal
between Japan and India. According to
the Jang News group, the Japanese
government refused the deal with
Pakistan. According to the Pakistan
Media, the Pakistan officials were
highly disappointed with Japanese
denial. On the other hand, Japanese
officials were left disappointed as
Pakistan had denied the Japanese request
to support Japan's candidacy for
permanent seat for the United Nations
Security Council.
Pakistan offered to provide Japan
technical assistance in controlling
nuclear radiation, following the
Fukushima reactor nuclear accidents, and
Japanese officials have accepted
Pakistan's offer. On 20 March 2011, it
was reported that scientists from the
PNRA and PAEC were ready to leave for
Japan as soon as IAEA approval was
received. 
Fuel cycle 
The government has set a target of
producing 350 tonnesper year from 2015
to meet one third of anticipated
requirements then. Low grade Ore is
known in central Punjab Province at
Bannu Basin and Suleman Range.
A small uranium centrifuge enrichment
plant at Kahuta has been operated by the
KRL since 1984 and does not have any
apparent civil use. It was expanded
threefold about 1991. A newer plant is
reported to be at Gadwal which is
operated by PAEC. The plant is not under
safeguards of IAEA.
In 2006, the PAEC announced that it was
preparing to set up separate and purely
civil conversion, enrichment and fuel
fabrication plants as a new US$ 1.2
billion Nuclear Power Fuel Complex which
would be under IAEA safeguards and
managed separately from existing
facilities. At least the enrichment
plant would be built at Chak Jhumra,
Faisalabad, in the Punjab and have a
150,000 SWU/yr capacity in five years —
about 2013, then be expanded in 150,000
SWU increments to be able to supply one
third of the enrichment requirements for
a planned 8800 MWe generating capacity
by 2030.
Radioactive wastes management 
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission is
responsible for the radioactive waste
management. From 1972, the PAEC has
undertaken to establish the safety
objectives, management, and radioactive
waste management. In 2004, the PNRA
issued guidelines for the management of
nuclear and radioactive waste management
in nuclear and medical research centers
under PAEC. In 2010, the PNRA issued
regulatory policy on radioactive waste
materials, and Pakistan lawmakers
presented the regulatory policy in
Pakistan Parliament. The Parliament
passed the PNRA regulatory policy
unanimously, making it into laws.
The PNRA proposed new Waste Management
offices to control of the radiation and
radioactive materials. The Waste
Management Centres are proposed for
Karachi, Rawalpindi, Nilore, Lahore and
Chashma. Used fuel is currently stored
at each reactor in pools. Longer-term
dry storage at each site is proposed.
The question of future reprocessing
remains open. A National Repository for
low- and intermediate-level wastes is
due to be commissioned by 2015.
Nuclear reprocessing 
The country also has operated one
indigenous reprocessing plant, built by
PAEC, which was known as the The New
Labs — outside PINSTECH, Nilore, near
Islamabad. The PAEC had contracted with
British BNFL for a reprocessing facility
which was cancelled in 1974. It was
built under the leadership of Mr. Munir
Ahmad Khan The plant became functional
in the early 1980s, and it is not under
IAEA inspection. The second nuclear
reprocessing plant was also started by
PAEC under Munir Ahmad Khan, in 1976, at
Chashma, under a contract agreement with
France However, France cancelled the
agreement for the said plant under US
influence in August 1978 . In 2006, the
PAEC started work another nuclear fuel
fabrication plant — Pakistan Nuclear
Power Fuel Complex — located 175
kilometers south near Islamabad. An
indigenous Nuclear Fuel Fabrication
Complex at Kundian, known as Kundian
Nuclear Fuel Complex, already exists
which was built by PAEC under Munir
Ahmad Khan and completed by 1980.
Kundian Nuclear Fuel Complex makes
nuclear fuel for KANUPP. However, the
2006 PNPFC project is being financed by
the joint Sino-Pak Nuclear Technology
Consortium, and the PAEC is leading the
designing and construction of the plant.
It will be under safeguards but KNFC is
not under safeguards. The Pakistan
Nuclear Power Fuel Complex is under the
IAEA safeguards and inspections as the
IAEA also contributed in the mega
project financially.
Radiation control 
The PAEC's directorate for Nuclear
Safety and Radiation Control was
responsible for the radiation and high
radioactive material control in the
country. However, in 2001, with the
establishment of the Pakistan Nuclear
Regulatory Authority, the
responsibilities were shifted to PNRA.
In 2003, the responsibilities and
agency's goals were expanded, as PNRA
were given the status of an executive
agency. The PNRA oversees reactor safety
and security, reactor licensing and
renewal, radioactive material safety,
security and licensing, and spent fuel
management. The PNRA closely work with
Chinese CNNC, and is frequently visited
by Chinese staff as its technical
advisers.
Nuclear accidents 
On 18–19 October 2011, the KANUPP
Karachi nuclear power plant imposed a
seven-hour emergency after heavy water
leaked from a feeder pipe to the
reactor. The leakage took place during a
routine maintenance shut down, and the
emergency was lifted seven hours later,
after the affected area was isolated.
Industry and academic 
The Pakistan Nuclear Society is a
scientific and educational society that
has both industry and academic members.
The organization publishes large amount
of scientific literature on nuclear
technology on several journals. The PNS
also allied itself with American Nuclear
Society, European Nuclear Society,
Indian Nuclear Society, Korean Nuclear
Society, Chinese Nuclear Society,
Hungarian Nuclear Society, and the
Spanish Nuclear Society. The Pakistan
Atomic Energy Commission also published
large sums of publication, and published
a quarterly magazine — The Nucleus. The
PAEC's academic scientists and engineers
also publishes the newsletter — The
PakAtom — concerning on nuclear
technology and lobbying for the
commercial nuclear power plants.
Academic research 
The academic research on nuclear
technology began in 1956, with the
establishment of Pakistan Atomic Energy
Commission. In 1965, United States
provided a 10 MW research reactor –
Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor-I – to
Pakistan. The PARR-Reactor consists of
three research reactors with a single
nuclear particle accelerator. The first
reactor was supplied by the U.S.
government in 1965 and it is operated by
the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear
Science and Technology. In 1969, the
Center for Nuclear Studies was
established, and it began its research
in a small reactor that was provided by
the PAEC. In 1989, the PAEC had built
another small research reactor, known as
Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor-II
reactor. The PARR-II reactor is an
indigenously built reactor by the PAEC,
and is under IAEA safeguards since IAEA
had funded this mega-project.
In 1986, another "multipurpose" heavy
water reactor, a 50 MWe pressurised
heavy water reactor near Khushab, was
built. Known as Khushab-I, it went
critical and started its operations in
April 1998. The complex is evidently for
producing weapons-grade plutonium,
isotope production and nuclear
reprocessing. A similar or possibly
larger heavy water reactor has been
under construction at Khushab since
about 2002. Khushab is reported to be
making demands upon the country's
limited uranium resources. Reprocessing
of weapon-grade material is reported to
take place at Chashma Nuclear Complex,
80 km west.
Non-proliferation 
Pakistan is not a signatory to Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty. However, it
maintains a civil nuclear power general
program under IAEA safeguards. Pakistan
has repeatedly refused calls for
international inspections of its
enrichment and reprocessing activities.
Munir Ahmad Khan, unlike his rival Abdul
Qadeer Khan, developed Pakistan's
nuclear weapons and power program
ingeniously and quietly. While the
weapons were developed in extreme
secrecy, the profiles of academic
scientists are kept highly classified,
and completely unknown to the public.
Strict nuclear proliferation policies
were introduced by Abdus Sattar, Munir
Ahmad Khan, and Ishfaq Ahmad in 1972,
and since adhered to by the PAEC.
In May 1998, Pakistan, under the
leadership of Prime minister Nawaz
Sharif, carried out tests of 5 atomic
devices — codenamed Chagai-I — at Ras
Koh region of Chagai Hills. The first
five nuclear devices were evidently made
from HEU, and the tests were supervised
by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission,
Kahuta Research Laboratories, and the
Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers. On May
30, small teams of PAEC scientists
performed another test of 1 or 2 nuclear
devices — codename Chagai-II — at the
Kharan region. The devices were made of
weapons-grade plutonium, and had a yield
reported to be between 20 and 40
kilotons of TNT equivalent.
See also 
Nuclear power
Nuclear power by country
References 
Suggested reading 
Siddiqui, Dr. Zia H.; Qureshi, I. H.,
"Nuclear Power in Pakistan", The
Nucleus) 42: 63–66, ISSN 0029-5698 
Nuclear Power for Pakistan: Reviving the
3Es, by Abdul Rehman Abbasi and Anwar ul
Hasson Syed, in Proc. ICESE-2010.
External links 
World Nuclear Organisation
Bringing Pakistan In From the Cold
