Pakistan for resolving conflicts to curb demand for small arms

New York, July 18 (PPI) - Pakistan has called for preventing, combating and eradicating illicit trade in small arms, light weapons and addressing root causes of conflicts to eliminate a major source of demand for such weapons.

Focus on conflict prevention and dispute resolution is thus a sine qua non to attain common goals of strengthening peace, security in conditions of economic and social progress, Pakistani delegate Javed Iqbal Cheema told a UN meeting here aimed at halting illicit trade.

Cheema, director general of Interior Ministry's National Crisis Management Cell, said in compliance with UN Programme of Action, Pakistan government bought back and destroyed around 20,000 small arms; 632,000 weapons and 3.5 million rounds of ammunition voluntarily surrendered and confiscated under a recovery plan; undertaken economic and educational development of destabilized areas; arms licensing procedures tightened and law enforcement improved.

He said Pakistan's close proximity to violent conflicts and resistance movements contributed to problem of small arms and light weapons. ``The biggest factor is continuing instability in our neighbourhood, which spawned proliferation of small arms, light weapons in geographically contiguous border areas of Pakistan.''

He also called for sharing information on brokering networks and cartels involved in this deadly trade. Pakistan has effective legislation in place to deal with brokering.

``We have water-tight system to regulate production, import, and export of weapons, ammunition, which is under exclusive control of the Government. Legal framework also catered for strict protection of stockpiles and prevention of pilferage.''