The United States has added seven Pakistani companies to a list of foreign entities that pose a significant risk to the national security and policy interests of the country.
The list has been prepared by the US Bureau of Industry and Security. It declared that all seven companies are reasonably believed to be involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.
According to the End-user Review Committee (ERC) of the US Department of Commerce, three companies are listed for their involvement in the proliferation of unsafeguarded nuclear activities. Two are for procuring supplies for nuclear-related entities and the remaining two are for acting as fronts for listed entities.
Dawn News reports that the move would have a negative impact on Pakistan’s efforts to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). A total of 23 entities added to the list include 15 from South Sudan and one from Singapore.
They will now face stringent export control measures, which could prevent them from conducting international trade.
