NCA okays Nuclear Power Prog 2050, Space Prog 2040

ISLAMABAD: The 19th National Command Autority (NCA) meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and was attended by Federal Ministers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, all three Services Chiefs and other senior officials.

As part of the energy security strategy, the NCA also reviewed and approved the futuristic, self-sustaining Nuclear Power Programme , 2050, to meet the existing energy shortfalls and to respond to the future requirements of a growing population and economy. The NCA emphasized the need to focus on socio-economic development of the people as a foremost priority.

The NCA also approved Pakistan’s Space Programme, 2040 in order to bring the benefits of the full spectrum of space technology to the people of Pakistan.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said that after the Abbottabad and Mehran base incidents doubts were raised over the security of Pakistan’s strategic assets which were baseless and were a part of creating propaganda against Pakistan.

He added that this propaganda would not stop Pakistan from moving forward. The NCA expressed satisfaction at the security and safety of Pakistan’s strategic programmes and facilities. It also expressed confidence in the operational readiness of Pakistan’s strategic weapons.

The NCA was also briefed on the nuclear security review undertaken recently. It expressed confidence in the institutionalized Command and Control System and comprehensive measures put in place to ensure reliability and security of strategic assets.

The NCA underlined that the Government and the people of Pakistan stood solidly behind the country’s nuclear and missile programmes, which would be pursued to maintain effective, reliable and credible deterrence capability, and all attempts to undermine this capability would be thwarted with full force.