Islamabad, 18 February 2023 (GNP): After holding talks aimed at further enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and the IAEA in the areas of peaceful applications of nuclear technology, particularly its role in mitigating the effects of climate change, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, ended his visit to Pakistan.
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Pakistan was visited by the IAEA Director General on February 15 and 16, 2023. He met with the Foreign Secretary, the Foreign Minister, the Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives during his visit.
Discussions on improving collaboration with Pakistan are held by the DG IAEA. Director General Grossi also met with the heads of Pakistan’s nuclear regulatory authority (PNRA) and Pakistan Atomic energy commission (PAEC), who gave him an update on nuclear security and governing structure.
He also officially opened the National Radiation Emergency Coordination Center at PNRA (NRECC). Pakistan has five decades of expertise running civil nuclear power facilities in a safe and secure manner while adhering to IAEA rules and regulations.
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In order to observe the safe and secure implementation of nuclear technologies in the field of public health, the Director General of the IAEA paid visits to the Chashma Nuclear Power Generating Station (CNPGS), Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH), Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Pakistan Centre of Excellence on Nuclear Security (PCENS), Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI), and the National Institute of Safety and Security (NISAS).
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Director General Grossi opened the CyberKnife and spent fuel dry storage facilities at NORI and CNPGS. Also, he declared that Pakistan will act as the IAEA’s regional center for cancer treatment as part of the “Ray of Hope” initiative. Grossi inaugurated the ZODIAC Lab and named NIAB as the IAEA’s Collaborating Center for Agriculture and Biotechnology during his visit.
The Director General of the IAEA was impressed by the high standards of these facilities when he visited PCENS and NISAS. Under the auspices of the IAEA, these facilities have been providing international training.
At a symposium in Islamabad on “Climate Change Mitigation and the Role of Nuclear Energy,” Director General Grossi gave the keynote lecture. In his speech, he emphasized the value of nuclear energy as a clean energy source for reducing the negative effects of climate change.
The visit came to an end with a dinner given in Director General Grossi’s honor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Foreign Secretary.
Now is an exciting time for nuclear energy—the role of regulators is indispensable in meeting its potential. Happy to visit the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, meet Chairman Faizan Mansoor, & tour the Nat'l Institute of Safety & Security, an @IAEAorg Collaborating Centre. pic.twitter.com/r82bDQn8FH
— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) February 16, 2023
Being a founding member of the IAEA, Pakistan has had a positive and useful relationship with the Organization since 1957. Pakistan participates in IAEA decision-making as a member of the Board of Governors. Such visits are a common part of communication between Pakistan and the IAEA.
Yukia Amano, a former IAEA director general, made two trips to Pakistan while in office. Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, Director General Rafael Grossi’s visit had been postponed.
