Rasheed Ahmed,
THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The Government of Pakistan has contributed €10,000 to a special Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store. This project will result in the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).
The contribution was formalised during a ceremony at the OPCW Headquarters between OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Alternate Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the OPCW, Counsellor Mr Aizaz Khan.
The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of Pakistan for this contribution to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology that will further build the capabilities of our Member States to ac hieve a world free of chemical weapons.”
Mr Aizaz Khan stated: “Pakistan has always been and remains a strong supporter of the Convention. Our contribution to the ChemTech Centre project demonstrates our support for research and development in cutting-edge technologies to make the world a safer place. It will strengthen our collective security by building further capacity to perform core tasks such as verification and inspections.”
Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW States Parties in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasized the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.
So far, thirty-four States Parties and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.
