The Role of International and

National Regulatory Bodies for

Ensuring Nuclear Safety

Faizan Mansoor
Member-Executive

Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority

 Presentation Layout

• Obligations for Nuclear Safety

• Role of IAEA
• Role of Regulator
• Charactertics of Regulaotry Body
• Evolution of Nuclear Regulatory Regime
in Pakistan
• Legal and Regulatory Framework
• Facilities under Purview of PNRA
• PNRA Core Functions
• International Cooperation
• Conclusion
2
 Obligations for Nuclear Safety

International  National 
Obligations Obligations

IAEA Conventions Constitution

Treaties Laws

Agreements Regulations PNRA

3
 International Obligations

 Pakistan is party to the:

– Convention on Nuclear Safety
– Convention on Early Notification in Case of Nuclear
Emergency
– Convention on Assistance in Case of Nuclear Accidents
– Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials
and Nuclear Facilities (CPPNM)
IAEA is the Depository for all these conventions
 Pakistan also subscribed to the IAEA Codes of Conduct
on:
– Safety of Research Reactors
– Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources

4
 Role of IAEA

• IAEA is an autonomous international organization within the

United Nations system
• Created in 1957 as an outcome of “Atoms for Peace” speech
by US President Eisenhower at the UN General Assembly
• Promotes peaceful use of nuclear technology by assisting its
Member States in planning for and using nuclear science and
technology for various purposes
• Develops nuclear safety & security standards and, based on
these standards, promotes the achievement and maintenance of
high levels of safety and security in applications of nuclear
energy
• Provides a forum to its Member States to share experience and
learn from each other as well as opportunities for peer reviews 5
 Role of Regulator

• Ensure that activities related to the peaceful

use of nuclear energy are carried out in a safe
manner
• Advice the Government on matters related to
nuclear safety, radiation protection, etc.
• Carry out other roles and functions as assigned
by the Government

6
 Characteristics of Regulatory Body

• Independence of regulatory body from:

– the organizations it regulates
– other government agencies or industry groups that
promote nuclear technologies
• Availability of adequate financial resources
• Competent manpower
• Well defined management system

7
 Evolution of Nuclear Regulatory Regime
in Pakistan
• Constitution of Pakistan Nuclear Safety Committee (for the 
1964 assessment of research reactor)

• Creation of Nuclear Safety and Licensing Division (for the 
1970 regulatory oversight of KANUPP‐1)

• PNSRP Ordinance (Formation of DNSRP) (to regulate the use of 
1984 radioactive material/sources in other sectors)
• Creation of Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Board (PNRB)  (Oct.) 
1994 (Partial compliance of CNS)

• Promulgation of Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority Ordinance 
2001 (Total compliance of Convention on Nuclear Safety)

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 Legal and Regulatory Framework

– issued by the Government of Pakistan

Ordinance – includes scope, objectives, composition,
function & powers of the Authority, etc.

Regulations:
– Issued by the Authority
Regulations – set mandatory requirements
– accommodate inputs from stakeholders

Regulatory Guides:
Regulatory Guides – clarify the requirements of regulations
– provide guidance on meeting the
requirements
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 Facilities Under Purview of PNRA

• Nuclear Installations
– Nuclear Power Plants
– Research Reactors
– Isotope Production Facilities
• Radiation Facilities
– Nuclear Medical Centers
– Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiology (including X-ray Units)
– Research Facilities using Radioactive Sources
– Industrial applications e.g. Industrial Radiography, oil well logging etc.
– Irradiators used for sterilization of medical products and food
preservation
• Nuclear Safety Class Equipment Manufacturers
• Service Providers for Non-Destructive Testing
10
 PNRA Core Functions

• To carry out its role of ensuring safety

effectively, following core functions are
carried out by PNRA:
– Make regulations
– Issue licenses/authorizations
– Perform review and assessment
– Conduct inspections
– Take enforcement actions in case of non-
compliances

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 Regulations

• Types of Regulations Issued by PNRA

– Administrative Regulations
– Technical Regulations (mainly based on IAEA SS)

– Pakistan Nuclear Safety & Radiation Protection

Regulations 1990 was the first regulations issued
in 1990 by DNSRP
– The subsequent regulations (total 16) were
developed after establishment of PNRA i.e., since
2001
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 Licenses/Authorizations

• Licenses
– Construction License (NIs)
– Operating Licence (NIs and RFs)
– Licenses to Operating Personnel (NPPs and RRs)
• Authorizations
– Registration
– Permits
– NOCs

13
 Licensing Stages for NIs

Site
Closure/
Registration
Removal 
from Construction 
Licence
Regulatory
Control

Authorization for  Permission for 
Decommissioning Commissioning 

Permission to 
Licence introduce nuclear 
Revalidation material into the 
Installation

Annual  Operating 
Renewal Licence

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 Review and Assessment
• Perform review and assessment during all licensing
stages
• Some important documents related to NPPs include:
– Safety Analysis Reports
– Probabilistic Safety Analysis Reports
– Programs for Radiation Protection, Radioactive Waste
Management, Environmental Monitoring, Physical
Protection, etc.
– Event Reports
– Modifications

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 Review and Assessment

• Review process for licensing stages

Documents  Detailed Review 
Docketing 
received at  by Subject 
Review
PNRA Specialist

Resolution of  Comments 
comments with  preparation and 
applicant finalization

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 Inspections

• Regional Directorates
– Planned Inspections
– Reactive Inspections

17
 Enforcement

• Directives for corrective actions

• Work Stoppage/Curtailment of Activity
• Licence revocation/cancellation/amendment
• Prosecution in court of law for imposing civil
penalty and/or imprisonment

18
 Role of PNRA in Import and Export

• The regulations require that import and export of

nuclear materials, radioactive sources or radiation
generators are to be authorized by PNRA
• PNRA issues “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) for
import/ export
• NOC is issued to PNRA licensees only

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 Regulatory Control Mechanism (Nuclear Material)
License

NOC Storage 
Facility at the 
Import sites of NIs
(nuclear fuel)
License

Nuclear 
Installations
(NPP, Research 
Reactors, etc.)

Regulatory Inspections

Enforcement

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 Regulatory Control Mechanism (Radioactive Material)
Disposal Authorization

NOC Permit Interim Storage 

for Disposal 
(SRS)
Import
(SRS, USRS)
License

Radiation  NOC
Facility
(Medical, Industry, 
Export
Research, Education,  (SRS)
NOC Scanning, etc.)

Locally 
Manufactured Remote Site
(USRS) (SRS)
Disposed off 
as Normal 
Regulatory Inspections Waste

Enforcement 21
 International Cooperation

• PNRA maintains cooperation at international

level for
– fulfilling its responsibilities as national contact
point for various international conventions;
– capacity building of its officials and infrastructure;
and
– Sharing of experiences

22
 Collaboration with IAEA

PNRA Provided Technical Assistance to IAEA through:

 Preparation of training courses on:
 Competency development of regulatory staff
 Authorization and Licensing of Nuclear Installations
 Safety Review and assessment of NPPs
 Team Members/Experts in IAEA Missions for
assessment of regulatory infrastructure of countries
embarking on nuclear power program.
 Experts/resource persons for implementing training
courses, workshops, conferences and seminars at
international level.
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 Collaboration with IAEA

 PNRA is member of IAEA Committees

– Commission on Safety Standards (CSS)
– Nuclear Safety Standard Committee (NUSSC)
– Radiation Safety Standard Committee (RASSC)
– Waste Safety Standard Committee (WASSC)
– Transport Safety Standard Committee (TRANSSC) and
– Advisory Committee on Nuclear Security (AdSec)
– Emergency Preparedness and Response Standard Committee
(EPReSC)
 Steering Committee of the Global Nuclear Safety and Security
Network (GNSSN)
 United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic
Radiation (UNSCEAR) 24
 Conclusion

• PNRA in Pakistan is ensuring high level of safety

and Security at facilities and activities involving
risk of ionizing radiation
• Regulatory requirements are aligned with
international standards
• PNRA carries out its functions related to
Pakistan’s International Obligations as assigned
by the Government
• PNRA provides advice to the Government on
matters related to peaceful nuclear applications

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 THANKS
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