United Nations, Oct 17 : Pakistan has reportedly called for the development of international non-discriminatory criterias regarding co-operation over the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The country’s Ambassador to the UN Zamir Akram said that a few unfair restrictions on the development of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes were resulting in “double standards”.

“Unfair restrictions on the development of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes only serve to strengthen the monopoly of few over nuclear technology and thus aggravate the sense of discrimination and existence of double standards,” the Daily Times quoted Akram as saying while speaking in a debate on nuclear weapons at the General Assembly’s First Committee.

“Such discrimination is dangerous for the integrity of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Black market networks owe their existence in part to restrictions on technology transfers also for peaceful purposes. Non-proliferation arrangements have focused on the supply side of the problem while ignoring the demand factor,” he added.

The Pakistani delegate said that the restricted nature of certain export control arrangements was an “impediment to the global implementation” of non-proliferation standards.

He said: “If states are required to meet standards set by these arrangements then they should be given opportunity to participate in these arrangements and benefit by sharing best practices and experiences of the founding members of these arrangements in the area of export controls and keep abreast of technical developments.” (ANI)