A one-day seminar was organized by the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) and the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) on ‘The Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and Pakistan’ with DG IAEA, Mr. Yukiya Amano in attendance.
Executive Director, Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi said in his welcome remarks that Pakistan has a long history of cooperation with the IAEA, starting with the inception of the agency itself in 1957. He said that Pakistan’s cooperation with the agency has been reciprocal, wherein the international agency has also greatly benefited from Pakistan’s nuclear expertise and its human resources.
He further said that Pakistan had been a beneficiary of the IAEA assistance since the earliest years of IAEA’s existence, and its government is fully committed to enhance this collaboration with the agency in diverse fields ranging from nuclear power development to that of human health, agriculture and livestock.
Director General IAEA Yukiya Amano shared his views after visiting K-2 and K-3 nuclear power plants,†I was very impressed to see that Pakistan has taken all possible nuclear safety and security measures.†He added that these reactors have most advanced safety features.
He also appreciated that Pakistan is enhancing crop yield in the field of agriculture. He further mentioned that Pakistan and IAEA have mutually beneficial and wide ranging cooperation.
Dr. Zafar Ali, Director General Strategic Export Control Division, Foreign Ministry said that Pakistan is all set to be a full member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and contribute towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals worldwide. Pakistan has offered to share its experience and expertise with other countries in the area of peaceful uses of nuclear technology, nuclear safety and security, non- proliferation and export controls.
Dr. Naeem Salik gave an overview of the historical evolution of Pakistan’s nuclear program and highlighted the fact that it started as a purely peaceful nuclear program with applications in medicine, agriculture and energy. Pakistan has an extensive peaceful nuclear program in a very active, productive and mutually beneficial partnership with the IAEA.
Syed Muhammad Ali, Senior Research Fellow, CISS mentioned that Pakistan, like the developed nations, must explore and pursue sustainable, clean and cost effective solution to energy challenges. Nuclear energy offers a useful,long term, environment friendly and cost effective solution to growing national energy needs.
The seminar was attended by participants hailing from different walks of life, but mainly politcally influential, serving and retired diplomats, senior military officers, scientists, academics, scholars, media persons and university students.
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Ali Sarwar Naqvi is Executive Director at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.
