Defending the safety and security standards of Pakistan's nuclear power plants, President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said atomic power would play a key role in meeting the country's energy needs.
"Pakistan's nuclear safety regulatory infrastructure is effective, functional and respected by world bodies," Musharraf told a gathering at the Chashma Nuclear Plant-II in Punjab province after performing the containment dome placement for the project.
The political uncertainty in Pakistan has prompted the world community to raise questions about the safety of its civil and military nuclear programmes, but the government has said it has an effective command and control system in place for its strategic assets.
Musharraf, who is also chairman of the National Command Authority, the body responsible for supervising the strategic nuclear programme, said Pakistan is a respectable nuclear state with "excellent" safety and security standards at all its atomic power plants.
The 325 MW Chashma Nuclear Plant -II, being built with Chinese assistance, is likely to be completed by 2010.
The dome placement is a key event in the construction of a nuclear power plant.
Musharraf said the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority are responsible for maintaining the country's existing nuclear power plants, KANUPP and Chasma Nuclear Plant-I.
The government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to expand power generation to meet the demands of the growing economy. The PAEC has been given the task of increasing atomic power generation.
In addition to conventional and renewable power sources, nuclear technology has a major role in the energy sector, he said.
Musharraf thanked China for its assistance in development projects, including nuclear power generation. He said his personal relations with Chinese President Hu Jintao have given these projects momentum.
Yu Jian Feng, vice president of the China National Nuclear Corporation, said the dome placement will mark the transfer of the project from the civil works stage to equipment installation.
PAEC Chairman Anwar Ali said the body has been tasked to produce 8,800 MW of atomic power by 2030.
"We plan to enhance indigenous contribution in each new plant and facilities and infrastructure for this purpose are being developed," he said.