Abstract
Arguably a nuclear emergency triggered by an act of war, sabotage or a natural
disaster can be the most complex crisis to handle. The crippling of the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan by a combination of an
earthquake and a tsunami is a case in point. A highly disciplined nation,
geared towards managing earthquakes and tsunamis and maintaining a high
level of nuclear safety found itself struggling to handle this epic tragedy.
Pakistan has a very small nuclear industry, which so far, has escaped any
significant, glitches in its operations. A clean track record is not reason enough
to conclude that nuclear emergencies may not take place. Officials at the
National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) point out that a Nuclear
Emergency Response Plan (NERP) is being prepared in consultation with the
experts of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), Pakistan
Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and the Strategic Plans Division
(SPD). It is expected that this Plan will cover all kinds of contingencies to
handle nuclear disasters. One hopes that it will include guidelines not only for
the rescue and relief organisations but also for the general public to follow in a
nuclear emergency. This paper aims at underscoring the importance of
integrating the common man in the nuclear disaster management plan.
Tughral Yamin . (2011) Nuclear Disaster Management , IPRI Journal, Volume-11, Issue-2.
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