Pakistan: How well prepared are we to deal with any possible fallout of a radioactive disaster?

By Zeenia Shaukar

In the past 70 years, 440 radiation accidents have occurred worldwide, largely linked to nuclear power plants. A critical nuclear plant accident not only demand intensive disaster response in terms of addressing the radiation contamination, but states are required to undertake massive operations for evacuation and resettlement, while also dealing with psycho-social impacts of the disaster, and resurrect of a shattered economy.

Being much conscious of their image, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), the body responsible for the country’s nuclear energy production, has been consistently responding to critics of the nuclear power expansion. The latter maintain that not only are these plants expensive to set up – KANUPP 2 and 3 shall cost US$9 billion – they pose much risk owing to their proximity to the population.