Civil nuclear deal between Pakistan and US can't be ruled out, says Sardar Asif.

ISLAMABAD, August 10, 2009 (Frontier Star): Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sardar Asif Ahmed Ali while denying the report that Pakistan has signed non nuclear proliferation agreement has said Pakistan is trying its level best to strike civil nuclear deal with US to overcome country's energy needs. Pakistan has not signed such agreement which bars it to sign nuclear deal with any country, he said this while talking to media men after addressing the workshop on "welding science" organized by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. Pakistan, he said, is a responsible nuclear country and its nuclear arsenal command and control system is in strong hand. Under construction Chashma Nuclear Power Plant II (CHASNUPP-2) would start generating 340 megawatt electricity by 2011, he said. Pakistan is the only country in the world, with whom China was cooperating for power generation through the use of nuclear technology, he added. We are also working to generate power through alternate sources, which includes solar, hydro and coal, he added. Pakistan is working on small civil nuclear projects but India after deal civil nuclear deal with India can start mega projects, he said. Answering to a question, he said, civil nuclear agreement between Pakistan and US can not be ruled out in future. Replying to another question, he said, we have finalized the project to get gas from coal in Thar and Rs. 1 billion has been allocated in current fiscal year of 2009-10 in this respect, he said. Planning Commission has cleared Diamir Basha dam and it would be constructed in two phases and in first phase civil work of dam would be completed with collaboration of Asian Development Bank, he added.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)