Pakistan's National Assembly (NA) in Islamabad Tuesday approved a bill on nuclear export control.

The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported that the NA, the powerful lower house of the parliament, adopted the bill after rejecting the amendments proposed by the opposition members.

The bill, titled Export Control on Goods, Technologies, Material and Equipment Related to Nuclear and Biological Weapons and Their Delivery Systems Act 2004, will come into force at once, said APP.

It added that the bill will apply to every citizen of Pakistan or a person in the service of Pakistan within and beyond Pakistan, or any Pakistani citizen visiting or working abroad, or any foreign national while in the territories of Pakistan.

Allegations from the international community on Pakistan's involvement in nuclear proliferation have long been imposing pressure on the South Asian nuclear power.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2004)