Pakistan ranked as most improved country in nuclear assets security

WASHINGTON (92 News) – Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) Nuclear Security Index 2020 has ranked Pakistan as the most improved country in nuclear assets security, among the countries with weapons-usable nuclear. According to a NTI Nuclear Security Index report, Pakistan was the most improved country in the theft ranking, improving its overall score by seven points. “The majority of Pakistan’s improvements are in the Security and Control Measures category (+25) because of its passage of new regulations. Pakistan also improved in the Global Norms category (+1),” noted the report. “Pakistan has steadily improved in the Security and Control Measures category over time with the passage of new regulations, improving by eight points in 2014, two in 2016, and six in 2018. Its score in 2014 improved owing to new regulations for on-site physical protection.” Pakistan scores high (67-100) in Domestic Commitments and Capacity, medium (34-66) in both Security and Control Measures and Global Norms, and low (0-33) in Quantities and Sites, owing to its continued increases in quantities of weapons-usable nuclear materials, and low in Risk Environment. The 2020 Index also noted two new subscriptions to nuclear security INFCIRCs that led to the countries increasing their score this year. Pakistan subscribed to INFCIRC/899 establishing principles for the Nuclear Security Contact Group. According to the report, “the group was founded by a group of countries that participated in the summits to facilitate cooperation and sustained engagement on nuclear security after the conclusion of the summits in 2016.” Meanwhile, Australia ranked first for the fifth time. Among countries with weapons-usable nuclear materials, Canada and Switzerland tied for the second, Germany was fourth, and the Netherlands and Norway tied for fifth. New Zealand and Sweden tied for first in the theft ranking for countries without weapon-usable nuclear materials, followed by Finland, Denmark and South Korea(tied for fourth), and Hungary and Spain (tied for sixth).

NTI is nonpartisan, nonprofit global security organization

It is pertinent to mention here that NTI is a nonpartisan, nonprofit global security organization focused on reducing nuclear and biological threats imperiling humanity. Founded in 2001 by former US Senator Sam Nunn and philanthropist Ted Turner, who continue to serve as co-chairs, NTI is guided by a prestigious international board of directors. Ernest J Moniz serves as co-chair and chief executive officer; Joan Rohlfing is president and chief operating officer.