Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan has no aggressive designs against any country and remains committed to peaceful co-existence with its neighbours. Our nuclear programme is purely of defensive nature, the Prime Minister said while addressing a gathering of scientists at the 34th International Nathiagali Summer College on Physics and Contemporary Needs held at Quaid-e-Azam Universitys National Centre for Physics here. The Prime Minister supported the objectives of non-proliferation and said the developing and small nations must be given unhindered access to the nuclear energy for civilian purposes to grapple with the issues of poverty, deprivation and backwardness. He said Pakistans emphasis on nuclear energy for peaceful purposes had shifted towards concerns for national security when India detonated a nuclear device in 1974. Pakistan could not afford to remain oblivious to this ominous development and grave threat to its security. Pakistan perforce had to opt for developing a matching response to the Indian nuclear threat, he said. However he regretted for international community at that time on failing to appreciate Pakistans concern for security and adopting a discriminatory posture towards Pakistan in the form of political and diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions. The Prime Minister appreciated the scientists of PAEC for exhibiting unparalleled commitment and dedication to the national cause against heavy odds and obliged the nation by achieving nuclear parity with India. The Pakistani nation will ever remain grateful and indebted to the scientists of PAEC for their achievement in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as well as the nuclear weapons programme, he said.