Worried about the possible smuggling of nuclear material, Pakistan has begun installing Radiation Monitoring Portals (RMPs) at all international trade corridors to check the smuggling. The move came after the government has established a new body, the National Nuclear Detection Architecture (NNDA).  

“The decision to establish NNDA at all international trade corridors was made after the recent Indian propaganda regarding the seizure of a potentially radioactive consignment from a vessel that originated from Pakistan,” Rehmatullah, director-general of the (NNDA), was quoted as saying by Business Recorder. 

In November 2021, India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized multiple China-bound containers from a port in the western state of Gujrat, which originated from Pakistan’s Karachi port, and was carrying nuclear material. Containers, though empty, had traces of nuclear fuels, tests confirmed later. 

The project cost is $31 million and will be financed by the World Bank.

“The government is very serious about securing its borders from smuggling of nuclear materials, especially after opening the Central Asia trade corridor. Therefore, the installation of radiation detection equipment is being made to avert all possibilities of nuclear material smuggling,” Rahmatullah said. 

The new installations will help authorities to detect any containers carrying the nuclear material, thus stopping possible smuggling attempts. The government has signed MOUs with the Directorate of Transit Trade and the representatives of all terminals for scanners’ installation. 

Single view scanners will be installed at the ports and airports of Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, the NNDA confirmed. 

(SAM)