Islamabad : Pakistan is taking extra measures to ensure the safety of its nuclear reactors following the Earth quake and Tsunami crisis at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plants.
Currently there are three nuclear power plants in Pakistan namely KANUPP at Karachi and CHASNUPP-1 and CHASNUPP-2 at Chashma near Mianwali in Punjab and a small swimming pool reactor at Nilor, Islamabad which is dedicated for research and studies.
Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) is a prime agency dedicated to the safety, radiation protection and regularisation of the nuclear establishment, especially the nuclear power plants. The authority was undertaken many steps to safeguard the plants and nuclear establishments.
The tsunami of 1945 was generated as a result of an earthquake in Makran and Gwadar area (about 350 to 400 km from Karachi) which also hit the coastal areas of Karachi. However, due the distance of the city from Makran, the height of tsunami waves were reduced to about 4m while KANUPP plant is built 6m above the sea level.
The shores of Makran are still vulnerable to tsunamis and earthquakes due to the presence of three very active tectonic plates namely, the Arabian, Eurasian and Indian plates, further studies are being carried out by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in this regard as per requirement of PNRA.
Fortunately, the geographical location of Karachi is such that a natural curve is formed near the sea shore, as a result, the possibility for a tsunami generated in Indian Ocean to hit the Karachi site is quite remote.
PNRA has also asked the PAEC to enhance the scope of its off-site emergency response exercises by involving the public residing in the nearby region so that the citizens are aware of emergency procedures.
