A nuclear Karachi

This refers to the editorial, ‘A nuclear Karachi?’ (August 25). The editorial noted that “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was beaming as he inaugurated the construction of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant’s (Kanupp) K-2 and K-3 nuclear reactors during his visit to Karachi last week. Why wouldn’t he be?” I for one do not see any cause for such exuberance.
First, our PM has once again proved how much he prefers politically-expedient solutions against those that require sagacity and prudence. Second, his government does not seem to have any well-thought-out plan to pull the country out of the current electricity crisis and is only going for band-aids and quick-fixes regardless of their long term health, safety and environmental consequences. Third, his government has shown a reckless disregard for the established international practice of conducting a comprehensive, transparent and consultative EIA for these two projects. Fourth, his government has put not only the current population of Karachi but their future generations also at risk of any accident at these two sites could unleash.
M Shahid Rahim
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia