DOCUMENT No.15

Text of Nuclear Weapons Bill

ISLAMABAD: Following is the text of the bill approved by National Assembly on Tuesday to provide export control on goods, technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and their delivery system:

A BILL to provide for export control on goods, technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and their delivery system:

WHEREAS the Islamic Republic of Pakistan- (a) is determined to safeguard its national security and foreign policy objectives and to fulfil its international obligations as a responsible nuclear weapon State; (b) as a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention has promulgated the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Ordinance, 2000 (LIV of 2000); and (c) is committed to prevent proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons and missiles capable of delivering such weapons;

AND WHEREAS to achieve the aforesaid objectives it is necessary to strengthen controls on the export, re-export, trans-shipment and transit of goods and technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and missiles capable of delivering such weapons;

AND WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for export control on goods, technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and their delivery systems;

It is hereby enacted as follows:-

1. Short title, extent, application and commencement;- (1) This Act may be called the Export Control on Goods, Technologies, Material and Equipment related to Nuclear and Biological Weapons and their Delivery Systems Act, 2004. (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. (3) It applies to-(a) every citizen of Pakistan or a person in the service of Pakistan within and beyond Pakistan or any Pakistani visiting or working abroad; (b) any foreign national while in the territories of Pakistan; and (c) any ground transport, ship or aircraft registered in Pakistan wherever it may be. (4) It shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions.- In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context;-

(a) "basic scientific research" means theoretical or experimental work undertaken principally to acquire new knowledge of the fundamental principles of phenomena or observable facts;

(b) "biological weapon" means any weapon designed to kill or harm or infect people, animals or plants on a large scale through effects of the infections or toxic properties of a biological warfare agent;

(d) "development" means any activity or phase prior to production and may include or relate to design research, design analysis, design concept, assembly and testing of prototypes, pilot production schemes, design data, the process of transforming designed data into product, configuration design and integration design or layout;

(e) "equipment" means an assembly which may comprise electrical, electronic, mechanical, chemical and metallurgical components, including those used in manufacturing or pilot plants, used in the production of nuclear and biological weapons;

(f) export" means-- (i) shipment, transfer or transmission of goods or technology out of the territory of Pakistan; and (ii) a transfer of goods or technology within Pakistan with the knowledge or intent that the goods or technology will be shipped, transferred or transmitted to an unauthorized recipient outside Pakistan;

(g) "goods" means any article natural or man made substance, material supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment except technology:

(h) "material" means materials used in the production of nuclear and biological weapons and their delivery system:

(i) "nuclear weapon" means any weapon designed to kill or cause destruction or harm people on a large scale through the effects of a nuclear explosion;

(j) "re-export" means export of an item from any end user State or entity after having imported any goods or technology covered under this Act from Pakistan to any other State or entity;

(k) "service" means providing training and technical assistance including intangible transfer such as disclosure of technical data relating to the purposes of this Act;

(l) "technology" means any documents including blueprints, plans, diagrams, models, formulae, table, engineering designs or specifications, manuals or instructions, necessary for the development and production of nuclear or biological weapons, and their delivery systems, including on-the-job training, expert advice and services attached therewith except-

i. any document or information that is in the public domain or is related to basic scientific research and other peaceful applications of such technology including that related to its application for protective purposes; and

ii. any application of the grant of a patent or any other form of protection for inventions or for the registration of a design in each case under the law of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan or any other country or under any treaty or international conventions to which Pakistan is a party or any document necessary to enable any such application to be filed, made or pursued;

(m) "transit" means transportation through the territory of Pakistan by land, air or amphibious means of transportation; and

(n) "trans-shipment' means shipment through ports of Pakistan.

3. Authority.- (1) For the purposes of this Act, the authority rests with the Federal Government and the federal Government, as and when necessary, may-

(a) make such rules and regulations as are necessary for implementation of this Act;

(b) delegate authority to administer all activities under this Act to such Ministries, Divisions, Departments and Agencies as it may deem appropriate;

(d) designate the agency or agencies authorized to enforce this Act;

(e) establish an oversight Board to monitor the implementation of this Act; and

(f) require licenses for exports from Pakistan of goods and technology, and the re-export of goods and technology that originated in Pakistan.

(2) Officials of the designated agency or agencies are authorized to inspect consignments declared for export and review, and review, acquire or confiscate records of persons engaged in the exporting or holding an export license under this Act, with the same powers in respect of exports in contravention of any provision of this Act. The Federal Government may vest any investigatory powers and powers of arrest authorized by law in officials of the customs administration or other appropriate agencies.

Control Lists.- (1) The Federal Government shall maintain Control Lists, to be notified separately, of goods and technologies subject to licensing requirements under this Act. (2) The control lists shall be reviewed periodically, and revised or updated, as required by the Federal Government and notified accordingly. (3) The Federal Government shall notify all licensing requirements and procedures. (4) The Federal Government shall control export, re-export, trans-shipment, transit of goods, technologies, material and equipment, subject to the provisions of this Act, which may contribute to the designing, development, production, stockpiling, maintenance or use of nuclear and biological weapons and their delivery systems (5). Nothing in this Act shall be construed to restrict or prohibit basic scientific research in the Pakistan or other peaceful applications or relevant technologies.
Licensing.- (1) The Federal Government shall frame and notify the licenses required under this Act, and also adopt and notify the procedures under which such licenses shall be approved or rejected. (2) Licenses for export of goods and technologies for peaceful applications may be approved unless the Government determines that the export would be in contravention of the provisions of this Act. (3) An exporter is under legal obligation to notify to the competent authority if the exporter is aware or suspects that the goods or technology are intended, in their entirety or in part, in connection with nuclear or biological weapons or missiles capable of delivering such weapons. (4) Nothing in this Act shall be taken to prohibit the export of licensed goods and technology provided that all conditions attached to the said license are complied with.
Record Keeping.- (1) All exporters shall maintain records of all transactions and report these to the designated authorities. (2) Any Government agency or department involved in export licensing procedure shall keep records of their recommendations and decisions. Such records shall be made available to other agencies or departments involved in export licensing, upon request.
Offences, etc., to be tried by a Court of Session.- Any person who contravenes any provision, or attempts to commit or abets the commission of an offence, under this act or any Order, rules and regulations framed there under shall be tried by a Court of session only upon compliant in writing made by an officer of the Federal Government authorized in this behalf by the Federal Government.
Offences and penalties.- (1) Any person who contravenes any provision of this act or any Order, rules and regulations framed there under, or provides false information concerning matters governed by this act to any of the agencies responsible for administering this Act, shall be guilty for an offence punishable on conviction by imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years, or with fine not exceeding five million rupees or both, and on conviction offender's property and assets, wherever they may be, shall be forfeited to the Federal Government. (2) Any person who attempts to commit or abets the commission of an offence under this act shall be proceeded against in the manner as if he had committed such an offence. (3) In case the offence is not serious for criminal proceedings, administrative actions, which may be determined from time to time, shall be taken against the individuals contravening any provision of this Act.
Appeal- Any person sentenced under this act may within thirty days of the decision prefer an appeal before the High Court having jurisdiction.
Diversion of controlled goods or technologies to unauthorized use.- Whenever the Federal Government determines that a recipient of controlled goods or technologies has knowingly diverted these goods or technologies to unauthorized use in violation of the conditions of an export license issued by the Government of Pakistan, the Federal Government or official of the appropriately designated agency may deny--

(a) further export to the recipient of goods or technologies for a specified period for each offence; or

(b) that recipient the privilege of exporting products into Pakistan for a specified period for each offence.

11. Act not to derogate from other laws, etc.- The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any law, rules, orders or notifications for the time being in force.

Statement of Objects and Reasons

1. As a responsible nuclear weapons state, Pakistan is cognizant of its obligations to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related technologies. The bill is an important legislation to regulate and control export, re-export, trans-shipment and transit of goods and technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and missiles capable of delivering such weapons. Pakistan already has in place regulations on chemical weapons in consonance with our obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

2. Under the recently adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, it is mandatory for each country to take measures to strengthen controls over sensitive materials and technologies. By adopting this bill, Pakistan would fulfil its international obligation and strengthen its credentials as a responsible nuclear weapons state.

3. The bill seeks to achieve the aforesaid objectives.

Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj

Minister-in-Charge
APP

Source: The News, 15 September 2004