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Published online 16 July 2008 | Nature 454, 258-259 (2008) | doi:10.1038/454258b
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Pakistan finds two radioactive containers
Discovery calls into question the country's ability to track its nuclear material.
When Pakistan ran an advertisement campaign last year telling citizens what to do if they stumbled upon radioactive material, it raised eyebrows in the West. Now Pakistani authorities have discovered two radioactive containers of unknown origin, bringing into further doubt their ability to keep track of nuclear material.
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I think the writer point of view is quite biased and extra sensitive. When PNRA spokesman clarified that it is material commonly used in oil exploration from a Soviet oil company from 60's. Then there is nothing to worry about. A small amount of radioactive material is used in many common laboratory equipment like in X-rays and in Gas Chromatographs with Electron Capture Detector. So as Mr. Matthew Bunn view suggests it is improper disposal from company and not unusual keeping in view that there was no PNRA at that time. About questioning the Pakistan ability to Track/safeguard its nuclear material by finding such common and small radioactive material is a very exaggerated and biased statement.
This is in response to Farrakh Mehboob's comment on the story. His concern is that the report is biased simply because Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has "clarified that it is material commonly used in oil exploration from a Soviet oil company from 60's". With all due respect what PNRA clarifies does not help alleviate my worries. PNRA is a Pakistani organisation and therefore not a neutral source. Remeber the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb; who himself was invloved in traffiking and selling "borrowed" technology to rogue nations! For us this story indeed is disconcerting and worrisome!