Pakistan to formally enter into Antarctic Treaty System

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Pakistan to formally enter into Antarctic Treaty System

ISLAMABAD (December 13 2009): Pakistan is to formally enter into the Antarctic Treaty system with its main objective stated to be participation in future expeditions by its scientists in common research programs, official sources told Business Recorder. The Cabinet, which met on December 8, 2009, allowed the Ministry of Science and Technology, backed by the Ministry of Defence, to complete all formalities to play an active role in the organisation.

When Pakistan would become an acceding state, it would not only get necessary co-operation and support of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties (ATCPs) in launching any future expeditions to Antarctica but would also get necessary training facilities for its scientists' participation in their joint research programmes, as well as the requisite support and assistance from related international organisations involved in Antarctic research activities.

The Ministry of Science and Technology, sources said, has informed the Cabinet that Antarctica continent has a vast potential of natural resources and may be called a giant outdoor scientific laboratory where scientists strive to decipher clues to the earth's history and detect warning signs of global pollution because of its unique geographical, scientific and environmental interest to the international scientific community.

By the beginning of last century, the USA and USSR started staking their claims for the uninhabited vast tracts of the continent. However, in 1959 a group of 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty System in Washington to keep Antarctica as a natural preserve, devoted to peace and science. A number of countries have joined the system to advance their scientific research and territorial interests.

Pakistan also established Jinnah Research Station in 1992 and entered into the comity of nations undertaking research at the highest, coldest and the most unexplored Antarctica continent. The Antarctica Treaty has been further strengthened through signing of five more international conventions.

Antarctica is the highest, coldest and most desolate continent which has gained international significance in recent decades because of its vast potential of natural resources. While 98 percent of the continent is covered with ice which contains more than two-thirds of world's fresh water, all its fauna and flora is concentrated in the remaining 2 percent area.

The 5th largest continent is a giant outdoor scientific laboratory where scientists strive to decipher clues to our planet's history and detect warning signs of global pollution. It plays a vital role in the world's environment system and, therefore, is of unique geographical, scientific and environmental interest to the world scientific community.

In the beginning of current century, some countries started claiming slices of the pie, but in view of the opposition, mainly by USA and USSR, their territorial claims made in the name of scientific research were not recognised. In 1959, a group of 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty in Washington DC in order to keep Antarctic as a natural preserve devoted to peace and science.

This Treaty came into force on June 23, 1961, freezing all territorial claims made earlier using the pretext of scientific explorations. The Treaty covers the area south of 60 degrees latitude. At present, 46 countries are signatories to this Treaty, comprising 80 percent of world's population, including China and India; 27 having consultative status ie, involved in significant Antarctic research and having voting rights.

They have also established more than 56 research stations, including the Jinnah Research Station, set up by Pakistan in 1992. Out of these, 40 research stations are manned. The Antarctica Treaty has been further strengthened through signing of five more international conventions, which describe measures to be undertaken by the signatory states aimed at protection of the Antarctic environment; its fauna and flora; living and non-living resources; ensuring the freedom of scientific investigation and use of Antarctica for peaceful purposes only.

The measures in effect under the Antarctic Treaty, its associated separate international instruments in force, and the measures in effect under those Instruments constitute the Antarctic Treaty system. It is composed of the following instruments:

(i) Antarctic Treaty (Washington-1959); (ii) Agreed measures for the conservation of Antarctic Fauna & Flora (1964); (iii) Convention for the conservation of Antarctic seals (London 1972); (iv) Convention on the conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (Canberra-1980); (v) Protocol on environmental protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid-1991); and (vi) Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resources (Wellington, New Zealand - 1988) (not in force ).

The main objectives of the Antarctic Treaty are: use of Antarctica for peaceful purposes only; freedom of scientific research and facilitation of international scientific investigations; and no military bases or testing of any type of weapons, nuclear explosions or dumping of nuclear wastes in Antarctica.

The Treaty holds in abeyance earlier claims of territorial sovereignty and does not allow any new claims or expansion of earlier claims to territorial sovereignty. The Treaty aims at protecting Antarctic environment, its fauna and flora and stresses free exchange of scientific information and co-operation between treaty parties and urges them to provide necessary assistance in cases of emergencies during Antarctic expeditions of member states.

In view of Prime Minister's directive in 1989, Pakistan's initial Antarctic expeditions were carried out by the Naitiona1 Institute of Oceanography (NIO), one R&D organisation of the Ministry of Science and Technology during 1990-91 & 1992-93 in co-operation with Pakistan Navy and other R&D institutions. In 1990, Pakistan was elected an associate member of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) which is the Advisory Committee of the Antarctic Treaty.

Pakistan National Maritime Affairs Co-ordination Committee (NMACC), under the Ministry of Defence, has been urging the Ministry of Science and Technology and NIO to launch a third expedition to Antarctica and to study the Antarctic Treaty system for accession by Pakistan as early as possible. These issues were stressed again during the 9th NMACC meeting held on January 9, 2007 in the Ministry of Defence.

On the basis of a brief sent by the Ministry of Defence on this matter, the Prime Minister had approved the proposal for seeking membership of Pakistan as acceding state of Antarctic Treaty. Sources said that there would be no financial liabilities to Pakistan on joining the Antarctic Treaty system. However, if Pakistan becomes a consultative party, or a member of the commissions set up under some of these conventions, it would have to pay its due share as per a determined formula.