KARACHI, Feb 1: Pakistan has developed indigenous technology to enrich uranium and zirconium. upgrade heavy water and produce spare parts for nu clear power reactors, a top nuclear scientist said today, reports AFP.

Islifaq Ahmed, chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). told reporters the capabilities could be used in power generation to spur rapid industrial growth.

We have developed the technology to enrich uranium and zirconium, upgrade heavy water and make spare parts for reactors." Ahmed said, adding that the capability was developed after nuclear nations refused to supply them.

The PAEC Chief was speaking at Pakistan's decades-old first nuclear power plant of 120 megawatts at Karachi. In Sindh province, a second nuclear plant of 300 megawatts is being built with China's help at Chasma in Punjab.

Ahmed said nuclear technology provides "the cheapest source of energy and is environment friendly" and that 430 nuclear power generating plants were being used all over world without any trouble.

Pakistan had sufficient reserves of uranium and zirconium, he said, and a heavy water plant had been added to the Karachi nuclear plant with a capacity to upgrade 10 tonnes annually.