Nuclear Trade: 7 Pakistani Firms Are Involved, Says US
Nuclear Trade: 7 Pakistani Firms Are Involved, Says US: United States administration has declared 7 Pakistani companies that pose risk to the national security and policy interests of United States. US has put an allegation on those firms for their involvement in nuclear trade.
Pakistan is looking for joining Nuclear Supplier Group that allows trade of fissile materials and nuclear technologies, this step by US would weaken the position further. China and Turkey support Pakistan’s application to join NSG, but they also quote procedural issues in adding new members. NSG requires a consensus among the member states for adding new countries to the club.
US Bureau of Industry and Security, declares that all seven companies are becoming involved in activities opposing to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. 2 are accused of acquiring supplies for nuclear related objects already on the list and the remaining two are accused of acting as fronts for listed entities. An eighth Pakistani entity is based in Singapore.
On the basis of security risk ground by the End-user Review Committee (ERC) of the US Department of Commerce, Seven companies are
- Marine Systems Pvt. Ltd.
- Akhtar & Munir,
- Proficient Engineers,
- Pervaiz Commercial Trading Co. (PCTC),
- Solutions Engineering,
- Engineering and Commercial Services (ECS)
- Mushko Electronics Pvt. Ltd. and Mushko Logistics Pvt. Ltd Singapore, be added to the list based on its involvement in supplying a Pakistani nuclear-related entity.
As a result of being added by the ERC US Department of Commerce, all these companies
- would face strict export control measures, which could prevent them from conducting international trade in the form of license conditions or license denials which includes any transaction in which items are to be exported, re-exported etc
Besides Pakistani companies, the list includes 15 entities from South Sudan and one from Singapore. This move by US creates a series of decisions aimed at putting a squeeze on Pakistan.