The Government of Pakistan has established legislative framework for regulation of nuclear and radiation safety through promulgation of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority Ordinance in 2001.

One of the obligations of PNRA, under the Ordinance, is to establish and enforce regulatory framework for nuclear safety and radiation protection in the country.

The legislative and regulatory pyramid of PNRA comprises three tiers namely Ordinance, Regulations and Regulatory Guides.

Ordinance

PNRA Ordinance is the first tier in the hierarchy of legislative and regulatory framework. The Ordinance provides mandate, composition, functions and powers of the Authority.

It empowers PNRA to devise, adopt, make and enforce necessary rules, regulations, orders, policies and codes of practice for ensuring nuclear safety and radiation protection in the country.

Regulations

Regulations form the second tier of the pyramid which specifies regulatory requirements that must be fulfilled to ensure nuclear safety and radiation protection.

Regulatory Guides

Regulatory Guides (RGs) form the third tier of legislative and regulatory pyramid. The RGs are non-mandatory and are issued to describe the measures acceptable to PNRA for use in implementing specific parts of its regulations.