***** "Pakistan Launches Nuclear Project" *****
**********************************************************

Wednesday, 28 December 2005
Courtesy of: The BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk

Pakistan has begun building a new nuclear power plant in Punjab province.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz launched work on the 325-mega watt plant in Chashma, which is the second to be built at the site with Chinese help.

It was "a milestone" in the history of nuclear technology in Pakistan, Mr Aziz told officials from both countries.

Officials say Chashma-2, south of the capital Islamabad, is for peaceful purposes and will follow International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards.

Pakistan has a parallel nuclear establishment, which runs its nuclear-weapon and missile technology programme.

Pakistan's first nuclear power plant was built in 1972 in Karachi, with Canadian assistance.

Western nations later ceased nuclear co-operation with Islamabad, after it was alleged Pakistan was developing nuclear weapons.

Pakistan conducted nuclear weapons tests in 1998.

Its rival India lauched its first nuclear weapon more than a decade earlier.