ISLAMABAD: The United States has praised Pakistan’s move to update its export control list for sensitive technologies and goods to make it compatible with international regimes.

“The US delegation appreciated the progress on harmonisation of Pakistan’s National Control Lists (NCL) with those of control lists of international export control regimes and the steps taken by Pakistan to keep its export control at par with international standards,” the Foreign Office said.

The observation was made on Wednesday during the second Pakistan-US bilateral meeting on strategic export controls held in Islamabad. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Vann Van Diepen, US principal deputy assistant secretary for international security and non-proliferation, and Ambassador Tasnim Aslam, additional secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Pakistan has recently revised the control lists of goods, technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and their delivery systems. The revision was made under the Export Control on Goods, Technologies, Material and Equipment related to Nuclear and Biological Weapons and their Delivery Systems Act, 2004. The legislation enables the government to control export, re-export, trans-shipment and transit of goods, technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and their delivery systems.

The revision makes the national control list harmonious with the lists maintained by the international export control regimes — Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, and the Australia Group.

At the meeting the Pakistani side apprised the US delegation about the latest developments in Pakistan’s strategic export control system, its internal compliance mechanism and the NCLs’ review process, the Foreign Office said.

The US side dwelt on various export controls aspects including their best practices, training measures and reforms being conducted by relevant US agencies, the foreign ministry added.

Pakistan has been pursuing its case for joining the export control regimes, particularly the NSG.

The meeting was held as part of the working of the Security, Strategic Stability and Non-proliferation (SSSNP) Working Group, which is a component of the Pak-US strategic dialogue.

“Such interactions are part of Pakistan’s consistent outreach effort to engage with the international community to mutually benefit from the best practices,” the foreign ministry said.

“Pakistan’s non-proliferation measures and the steps taken to further strengthen its export controls are well recognised by the international community. Pakistan is fully committed to non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and their delivery systems. Based on its credentials, Pakistan qualifies to join export control regimes including NSG,” it added.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2015

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