Speaker
Description
Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) is the national authority in Pakistan to regulate the transport of radioactive material (RM) in the country. The PNRAregulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material PAK/916 (Rev.1) is based upon IAEA SSR-6(2018). PNRA ensures the compliance of these regulatory requirements by their licensees as well as consignor and/or consignee of radioactive material.
Other national departments such as Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Commerce, Federal Board of Revenue, Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc. are also involve to ensure safe transportation of all dangerous goods including class-7 (RM) in Pakistan by implementing their regulations in-line with international regulations/Codes such as RID, IMDG, ICAO etc.
Based upon different cases and queries related to transit and transport of RM from carriers/consignors within and outside Pakistan, as well as from other national authorities/ministries, some challenges/gaps were identified at national level.These challenges/gaps were the lack of coordination among the relevant national stakeholders, lack of clear understanding of the responsibilities for activities related to transport of RM within their jurisdiction, matter of regulating the carriers involve in transport of RM, lack of common understanding of regulatory frameworks of all national stakeholders etc. All these outline the need for strengthening the national regime for safe transport of RM in the country.
In order to meet the underlying challenges, PNRA took a number of initiatives, such as coordinated with relevant national stakeholders; conducted a number of meetings and organized seminars & training courses for them on safe transport of RM; nominations of points of contact for smooth coordination among the relevant stakeholders ; involved all relevant stakeholders in revision of PNRA transport regulations PAK/916 and vice versa etc. to set common understanding related to safe transport of radioactive material in Pakistan.
This paper will present a detail of efforts made by PNRA for establishment of a national regime for safe transport of radioactive material, challenges faced and future recommendations.
