Amid stepped-up efforts by Pakistan to seek a nuclear deal similar to the Indo-US accord, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday asked major nuclear powers to adopt a uniform approach so that the transfer of atomic technology did not remain the "prerogative of a chosen few."

Major nuclear powers, International Atomic Energy Agency and Nuclear Suppliers Group "need to harmonise their policies" to adopt a uniform approach for transfer of nuclear technology for civilian purposes to developing countries, Gilani told a gathering of scientists at the Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.

The new approach should be in conformity with "the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," one of the three pillars of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, he said. "It should not remain a privilege and prerogative of a chosen few."

Though Gilani did not refer to the Indo-US nuclear deal, he was apparently making a case for Pakistan to be given a similar arrangement for accessing atomic technology and know-how. Pakistan has stepped up efforts to acquire nuclear technology from countries like China in the wake of the Indo-US deal.

"While supporting the objectives of non-proliferation, it is our firm belief that the developing and small nations must be given unhindered access to nuclear energy for civilian purposes because they need it more than the developed nations to grapple with the issues of poverty, deprivation and backwardness," he said.

Gilani said Islamabad's nuclear programme is "purely of defensive nature" and Pakistan has "no aggressive designs against any country and remains committed to peaceful co-existence with its neighbours."

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