1 pakistan's national efforts to mitigate biological threats dr. riaz hussain qamar islamic...

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PAKISTAN'S NATIONAL EFFORTS TO MITIGATE

BIOLOGICAL THREATS

Dr. Riaz Hussain QamarIslamic Republic of Pakistan

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IN THE NAME OF ALLAHTHE BENEFICIENT, THE MERCIFUL

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SEQUENCE OF PRESENTATION

• Aim

• Biological Weapons/Bio-Terrorism

• BTWC Process

• Biological Threats

• Pakistan’s Efforts to Mitigate BW Threats

• Conclusions

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AIM

To provide an overview of International

Concerns and Responses to Biological Threats,

and Pakistan’s approach to meet its ensuing

Global Obligations.

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BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS/ BIO-TERRORISM

• BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS: Any infectious agent such as Bacteria or Virus when used intentionally to inflict harm upon others. This definition is often expanded to include Biologically-Derived Toxins and Poisons.

• BIO-TERRORISM: The use of living agents, such as a man made or naturally occurring pathogens, to attack people, animals, and plants.

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History of BW Dates back to centuries2001 – US ANTHRAX OUTBREAK

HISTORY OF BIOLOGICAL WARFARE /BIO-TERRORISM

• A letter containing anthrax was received by Tom Daschle, the leader of the United States Senate.

• 23 members of his staff and 5 police officers tested positive with nasal swabs.

• Citizens begin stockpiling Ciprofloxacin.

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POTENTIAL THREATS OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

• BW Agents are naturally present in the

environment.

• No Major Infrastructure and Manpower required.

• May be easier, faster to produce and more cost-

effective than other WMDs also known as Poor

man’s Atomic Bomb.

• Potential for dissemination over large geographic

area.

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• Difficult to Diagnose and/or Treat, high Morbidity

and Mortality.

• Person-to-Person Transmission possible

(smallpox, plague, and viral hemorrhagic fever).

• Create panic, also called weapons of Mass

Disruption.

…..POTENTIAL THREATS OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

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FACTS - BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS/BIO-TERRORISM

• Although, BWs have been used off and on

since centuries but the number of casualties

are negligible as compared to other WMDs.

• Reliable Early Detection Devices/Equipment for

Surveillance /Detection /Identification are very

expensive and not available with many states.

• Requisite Infrastructure and trained Manpower is

also deficient in many countries.

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DEFENCE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

• Planning of an effective Biological Warfare

Defence is one of the most difficult task for any

Nation and its Scientific Community.

• International Cooperation and Transfer of

Technology are the areas, that require attention

and will compliment and support National Actions

for a reliable Defence Against Biological Weapons.

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BTWC PROCESS

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BTWC - IMPLEMENTATION

• Although the BTWC-1972, has been in force for

several decades and has considerable

international formal support but:

• It is widely accepted that the BTWC is still too

weak institutionally and its implementation is not

very effective in the absence of a Verification

System.

• Whereas, CWC is extremely intrusive in nature

and contains a comprehensive “Verification

Regime” including Challenge Inspection.

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BIOLOGICAL THREATS

• By Terrorists and Non-State Actors

• Misuse of Dual Use Technologies

• Theft from any Lab/Institute

• Local & Foreign Religious Extremists

• Locally hired Agents

• Any Frustrated Cult

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HOW TO MITIGATE BIO-THREATS?

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All States Parties are required to fulfill

International Obligations according to BTWC/ UN

Security Council’s Resolution - 1540 such as:

– BTWC Act

– Designation of Focal Point

– Central Implementation Authority

– Appropriate Bio-Safety & Bio-Security

Measures

– Code of Conduct for Scientists, and

Awareness Raising

BTWC – OBLIGATIONS OF STATES PARTIES

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– Submission of BTWC CBMs on Annual Basis

– Enhancement of level of national

preparedness for disease surveillance in

humans, animals and plants

– Universalization of BTWC by influencing

friendly Non-Signatory States

– Inclusion of salient features of 1925 Geneva

Protocol, BTWC and other obligations in

educational programme

…..BTWC-OBLIGATIONS OF STATES PARTIES

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ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN

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PAKISTAN

• Population: 170 million • Capital: Islamabad• Area: 796,095 sq km (307,374 sq

miles), excluding Pakistani-administered Kashmir (83,716 sq km/32,323 sq miles)

• Major Languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi

• Major Religion: Islam

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PAKISTAN’S APPROACH

• Pakistan is on the front line of “War on Terror”

and being targeted by terrorist activities.

• Pakistan has been suffering a huge Financial

and Human loss due to these terrorist activities.

• Pakistan is fully concerned about use of any

Biological Weapons/Act of Bio-Terrorism, and is

doing its best to counter these emerging threats

by observing Stringent Bio-Safety & Bio-Security

Measures by utilizing all available resources.

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…..PAKISTAN’S APPROACH

• Pakistan, as a BTWC State Party since 1972,

as a Non-Possessor State, has been abiding

by all the provisions of the BTWC.

• We never developed, produced, acquired or

stockpiled Biological Weapons or their

means of delivery.

• In fact, Biological Weapons had never been a

part of our Security Matrix.

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• Our Extensive National Report to the UN

Security Council’s 1540 Committee, provided

a detailed Matrix of Information on existing

Legislation and their enforcement to deal

with threat of the use of Biological & Toxin

Weapons.

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• Pakistan has made tremendous progress in

the implementation of our existing Legislation,

formulation of new laws, where required, and

adoption of very effective administrative steps

for the Mitigation of Biological Threats by:

• Administrative Measures

• Legislation


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ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURESa. Designation of National Point of Contact for BTWC matters

b. Establishment of Inter-Agency Working Group (Task Force)

c. Education and Awareness Raising for Implementation of BTWC

d. Oversight of Biological Research and Related Activities

e. Code of Conduct

f. Establishment of National Core Group of Life Sciences (NCGLS)

g. Pakistan Biological Safety Association (PBSA)

h. Mechanism for Preparedness for Disease Surveillance


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a. National Point of Contact for BTWC Matters

• Established at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DG Dsmt-

P MFA) to deal with day to day activities of BTWC.

• Regular meetings of all Stakeholders are being

arranged to coordinate matters pertaining to

BTWC implementation.

• Our activities are gradually expanding to

include private sector organizations, academic

institutions, industries and other relevant

private sector entities.


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b. Inter-Agency Working Group (Task Force)

• A Task Force with representatives of all

concerned Ministries and Organizations has

been established under the National Focal

Point for BTWC related issues, to promote

awareness regarding Biosafety, Biosecurity

and Non-proliferation of Biological Threats.


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c. Education and Awareness Raising for Implementation of BTWC

• Awareness Raising Programmes regarding BW

Threats have been initiated at all levels through

organizing Seminars/Conferences/Workshops

related to Lab Biosafety & Lab Biosecurity.

• A series of

Seminars/Conferences/Workshops have

been arranged during the last two years to

create awareness amongst Researchers,

Academia and Law Enforcement Agencies.


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• Many personnel have also participated in

International Seminars

/Conferences/Workshops.

• Comprehensive Booklets/SOPs on Biosafety

& Biosecurity have been prepared and

issued to all concerned Institutions for strict

compliance.


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EDUCATION/ AWARENESS

RAISING

Media Regional Seminars

Seminars/Conferences/ Workshops

In-house Presentations/Lectures

Publications

Academia

Education/Awareness Raising …..PAKISTAN’S APPROACH

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d. Oversight of Biological Research and Related Activities

• Monitoring and Implementation Mechanism of the

National Biosafety Guidelines is built on three tiers:

– National Biosafety Committee (NBC)

– Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

– Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

• National Biosafety Centre

• National Bio-ethics Committee


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e. Code of Conduct

• Pakistan Emphasizes the need for formulating a

Code of Conduct for the scientists.

• A draft Code of Conduct has been prepared and

necessary consultations are undergoing for its

final approval and Implementation.


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f. Establishment of National Core Group of Life Sciences (NCGLS)

• Working Group of Life Scientists from

universities/institutions has been established under

National Core Group of Life Sciences (NCGLS) in

Nov 2007, with a mandate of:

– Capacity Building

– Development of Biosafety and Biosecurity

Syllabi for Post-Graduate and Undergraduate

levels


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– Evaluation of suggested syllabi by NCGLS

– Final review by Higher Education Commission

• A number of institutions like Quaid-i-Azam

University, Islamabad, University of Karachi,

Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied

Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad and Aga Khan

University, Karachi have already revised their

syllabi and are implementing it.


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g. Pakistan Biological Safety Association (PBSA)

• Established in 2008 under the Umbrella of National

Core Group of Life Sciences (NCGLS), Higher

Education Commission and in collaboration with

Committee on Scientific & Technological

Cooperation (COMSTECH), Organization of Islamic

Conference (OIC).

• Memberships includes Scholars/ Scientists/

Microbiologists/Public Health Experts.


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• Goals: Capacity Building in terms of developing

expertise in the scientific, legal and technical

areas for example in Risk Assessment, Risk

Management and Laboratory Designing.

• Strategies:

– Train the Trainers

– Seek for Biosafety Certification


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h. Mechanism for Disease Surveillance, Detection, Diagnosis And Containment

• Communicable Diseases (CDs) and Public

Health Threats have always posed mammoth

challenges for Health Authorities and

Governments all over the world. The global

traffic are paving ways for appearance of new

microbes and re-emergence of old diseases.

• Focused surveillance and controlled measures

can effectively check the spread of CDs and

Public Health Threats.


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• National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad

deals with human diseases, whereas

veterinary institutes handle diseases related

to animals and birds.

• We have moderate system for disease

Surveillance, Detection and Containment.

• Operational Lab-base Surveillance

Programmes are being implemented in

collaboration with WHO and International

Partners.


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LEGISLATION

• Export Control Act, 2004, this law provides for control over export, re-export, transshipment and transit of goods, technologies, material and equipment and prohibit diversion of controlled goods and technologies. This law has Penal Provisions of up to 14 Years imprisonment and Rs. 5 Million fine or both.

• Pakistan Biosafety Rules 2005, regulate manufacture, import and storage of modified organisms and genes and technological products for research.


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• National Bio-Safety Guidelines 2005, established

procedures to keep Genetically Modified Organisms

(GMOs) with in safety limits.

• In Oct 2005 Pakistan notified a Control List of goods, technologies, materials and equipment which incorporates internationally accepted standard list, including that of Australia group (AG) dealing with Biological Agents and Toxins, and Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).


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• Strategic Export Control Division (SEC DIV): In pursuance of Export Control Act, the National Control Authority and its Oversight Board SEC DIV was established in Min of Foreign Affairs in 2007. SEC DIV formulates and enforces rules and regulations for the implementation of Export Controls.

• There are several existing Laws & Regulations to prevent and control the development and use of Biological Agents and Noxious substances like: Pakistan Penal Code 1960, Customs Act 1969, The Drugs Act 1976, Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act 1976, Surrender of illicit Arms Act 1991 and Anti terrorism Act 1997.


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• Draft BTWC Implementation Legislation, has

been finalized after an intricate inter-

departmental process and is now ready for

final legal vetting by Ministry of Law before

its enactment as law in accordance with

national procedures.


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• Pakistan remains committed to strengthening the

BTWC, including establishment of a Compliance

Regime through a Legally Binding Instrument.

• Very effective and comprehensive

Legislation, and efficient Administrative

Measures are in place for dealing with any

untoward incident of Bio-Threats.

CONCLUSIONS

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• Pakistan is doing its best to mitigate Biological

Threats by setting up strong National Institutions

and observing stringent Bio-Safety & Bio-Security

Measures, keeping in view of available resources.

• International Cooperation and Transfer of Technology are

areas that require attention and will compliment and

support our national actions.

CONCLUSIONS

1 pakistan's national efforts to mitigate biological threats dr. riaz hussain qamar islamic...

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