IRIA News

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Pakistan have agreed to increase collaboration in the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology in healthcare to treat cancer, improve agriculture, and to address the climate crisis.

This was announced after IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi’s two-day visit (February 15-16) to Pakistan where he met with the country’s leaders and toured several nuclear facilities across the country.

During the visit to the headquarters of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Grossi had a meaningful exchange with the PAEC Chairman Raja Ali Raza Anwar on the comprehensive and cohesive nature of the country’s peaceful nuclear program. Grossi also thanked him for the invitation and hospitality during the two days.

Visit to nuclear facilities

In Pakistan, Grossi visited numerous nuclear facilities, and also inaugurated a few. After visiting the Pakistan Centre of Excellence in Nuclear Security (PCENS), the IAEA chief said that he was “impressed by the high standard of the facility and that he looked forward to further collaboration.”

Later, he toured IAEA Collaborating Centre, the National Institute of Safety and Security (NISAS), following his visit to the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) and meeting with PNRA Chairman Faizan Mansoor. He also visited the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), an IAEA partner in work related to human health, nutrition and water analysis.

Pakistan currently operates six nuclear power reactors at two sites that generate almost a quarter of its low-carbon electricity. Grossi visited one of those sites, the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant, located some 250 kilometers south of Islamabad, and inaugurated its new spent fuel dry storage facility. Pakistan has five decades of experience in safe and secure operations of civil nuclear power plants which follow the IAEA standards and guidelines.

#NuclearSecurity is a crucial element within the continued cooperation between Pakistan and @IAEAorg. I was impressed by the high standard of the Pakistan Centre of Excellence in Nuclear Security and I look forward to enhancing our excellent collaboration. pic.twitter.com/F2xL2N8P8B

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) February 15, 2023

At the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) in Faisalabad, Grossi designated the facility as an IAEA Collaborating Centre in agriculture and biotechnology. NIAB is also a national laboratory under the IAEA’s ZODIAC initiative for combating zoonotic diseases and future pandemics. Grossi planted a Sago Palm at the site and spoke about the IAEA’s collaboration with the facility in developing climate change-resilient cotton varieties.

Inauguration of facilities

The IAEA chief inaugurated several facilities in the country including:

• Chashma Nuclear Power Plant’s new spent fuel dry storage facility.
• Cyberknife, a new cancer treatment facility, at Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI) in Islamabad. Grossi described it as a milestone for the country. 
• National Radiation Emergency Coordination Centre (NRECC) in Islamabad.
• Dosimetry laboratory at PINSTECH.

Visiting the 🇵🇰 Nuclear Medicine Oncology & #Radiotherapy Inst., an important @IAEAorg partner & a perfect example of peaceful nuclear uses.
Proud to inaugurate Cyberknife, a #CancerCare4All milestone. Pakistan will support its neighbors as a regional centre in Rays of Hope. pic.twitter.com/Sz31z96q7B

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) February 15, 2023

Meetings with leaders

During the IAEA chief’s meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the two discussed the impact of climate crisis on Pakistan, which has consistently ranked as one of the ten most vulnerable countries to climate change and faced unprecedented floods in 2022 that inundated one-third of the country and killed more than 1,700 people. Pakistani prime minister expressed his country’s desire to strengthen collaboration with the IAEA in agriculture and medicine and his support to IAEA’s efforts to promote peace and development worldwide. The two also discussed nuclear safety and security Ukraine andd the challenges caused by the war in the country.

In his meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chief of the UN nuclear agency said “opportunities for the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology in Pakistan were plentiful” specifying how nuclear applications and IAEA initiatives are addressing climate change and issues of access to cancer care. Bhutto Zardari emphasized the need to enhance collaboration in agriculture, health, medicine, and other areas, as well as to address climate change, water, energy, and food security challenges.

He also met with Pakistani fellows of the IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme, an initiative seeking to help build gender-balanced capacities in the nuclear sector. Grossi concluded his visit with a seminar on climate change mitigation, highlighting the role of the IAEA in supporting climate-vulnerable countries in addressing the climate crisis with nuclear science and technology.