SAFETY AND SECURITY OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRY: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

In the prevailing national and global security environment, the illegal proliferation of chemicals, the safety and security of chemical industry and above all chemical terrorism present grave challenges. The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), however, spells out an appropriate mechanism for addressing said threats. Although, this germinates optimism, yet it is very much dependent on the national efforts of the CWC States Parties. Moreover, the said challenges also necessitate the reevaluation of the mandate, priorities and functioning of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Pakistan being a State Party to the CWC attaches great importance to the effective national implementation of the Convention and has established National Authority on CWC, and enacted necessary and comprehensive legislative and administrative measures. Nonetheless, the National Authority needs to be revitalized and its monitoring and outreach roles and capacity need to be enhanced in the light of the General Purpose Criteria of the CWC (catch-all clause). The declared chemical industry of Pakistan and other larger enterprises maintain good standards of ‘safety and security’. However, the small and medium industries (termed ‘Other Chemical Industry’) require definite improvement. Moreover, various ministries and organizations managing chemicals and related facilities need better coordination, and to develop monitoring and implementation capacities for the safe and secure management of chemicals, related facilities and addressing national concerns, such as, the misuse of chemicals by terrorists, smuggling, improper chemical waste disposal, environmental harm, workers and community health and safety issues, and lack of safe and secure chemical transportation system.