Pak chemical plants under scanner

For the first time since it became a signatory to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in 1993, Pakistan has deci...

For the first time since it became a signatory to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in 1993, Pakistan has decided to throw open its five ‘‘big industrial’’ chemical plants for international inspection.

‘‘All arrangements for inspection have either been finalised or in progress to provide security to the inspectors for which the Pakistan foreign office has made a ‘strict schedule’ involving many local intelligence and security agencies,’’ the local daily The News quoted officials here as saying today.

	No chemical sites inspection: Pak
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday denied reports that it had decided to throw open some of its chemical industrial sites to international inspection and a programme schedule for the overseas monitors was being put in place. ‘‘No such industrial inspection has been scheduled by the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Pakistan,’’ a statement by the Pakistan Foreign Office said here. (PTI) Story continues below this ad

However the paper did not indicate the date of the inspection but said it would be completed ‘‘in one go’’ and ‘‘within 24 hours’’ due to threats to the safety of inspectors posed by Al Qaeda.

‘‘Keeping in view the nature of the job to be done by the inspectors and possible subversion or strike by fugitive al-qaeda people, security is the main concern for the government and elaborate arrangements have been made in this regard.’’

Pakistan signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) on January 13, 1993. India signed the convention a day after. The newspaper also did not mention what prompted Pakistan to suddenly open its chemical factories to international monitors.

The industrial units to be thrown open for overseas inspection include Dawood Hercules, Fauji Fertiliser, Pak-American fertiliser and Pak-Arab fertiliser, the paper said adding that a schedule was being readied by the officials under which the inspectors would go straight to the industrial units to finish their job within 24 hours and leave the country soon afterwards.