Nuclear power in Pakistan

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Pakistan is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Pakistan covertly developed its nuclear weapons over many decades, beginning in the late 1970s. It is contended that Pakistan began its nuclear development programs in response to India's nuclear device. It is unknown when Pakistan began its nuclear development projects, but by the 1980s it was suspected of having successfully developed nuclear warheads. However, this was to remain speculative until 1998 when Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests at the Chagai Hills, a few days after India conducted its own tests.Pakistan has two Nuclear reactors 425 MW Power, one Nuclear power plant is under construction and two new Nuclear power plants are Proposed for Construction.

Many organisations have speculated Pakistan's nuclear bomb production capacity to be in between 50-60 per year although the exact number of possible nuclear weapons within Pakistan's arsenal is kept strictly confidential. Till recently these figures were widely accepted but according to a British intelligence report (after President Bush's visit to India , Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2006 where he confirmed a nuclear deal between the US and India) Pakistan's production capacity was mentioned as twice the original estimation due to the detection of a secret heavy water plant in the Punjab region of Pakistan. However, this was largely taken as a rumour to justify us and india nuclear deal. Pakistan currenly possesses ballistic missiles and fighter planes which can carry conventional weapons and nuclear warheads.

[edit] See also

• List of countries with nuclear weapons
• Pakistan Army
• Nuclear power
• Nuclear power by country
• Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction
• CHASNUPP-1
• CHASNUPP-2
• KANUPP