Pakistan-IAEA Collaboration Strengthens South-South Cooperation in Nuclear Technology

Islamabad_DG IAEA Launches a Publication Highlighting the Role of Pakistan to Strengthen South-South Cooperation Through the Promotion of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology
At a side event, hosted by Pakistan, to highlight its contributions to South-South cooperation in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a publication titled, “Pakistan: Partnering with IAEA for Strengthening South-South Cooperation” was launched by the Director General of the IAEA, Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi. The event was organised at the sidelines of the 67th Session of the General Conference, currently ongoing in Vienna, Austria, and covered the ongoing partnerships of Pakistan with the IAEA under its Technical Cooperation Department for the promotion and transfer of nuclear technology for socioeconomic progress in developing countries. It was attended by senior level officials including from the Ghana Nuclear Regulatory Authority which is collaborating with the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA).
During his opening remarks, Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Mr. Raja Ali Raza Anwar, highlighted the great importance Pakistan accorded to the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme due to which significant contributions to developmental gains in diverse fields had been achieved in the country. These included food & agriculture, human health, nuclear power, water resource management, industry and education. He pointed out that the objective of the side event was to highlight the expertise and facilities which Pakistan has developed in cooperation with the IAEA and remains willing to share with other interested developing countries. He also took note of the ongoing collaboration between Pakistan and Ghana in the area of nuclear regulatory frameworks.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan, H.E. Aftab Ahmad Khokher, also addressed the gathering, shared that, today, Pakistan had a highly developed and multifaceted civil nuclear programme. He added that the country had made strides in harnessing nuclear science and technology in various fields and appreciated the decades-long productive and mutually beneficial collaborative relationship that existed with the IAEA. He also highlighted that, in a significant development, Pakistan had been successful in producing coloured cotton and was currently planning its large scale production.
During the event, remarks were also delivered by senior level officials from PAEC and PNRA. From the IAEA, the Deputy Director General of the Technical Cooperation Department as well as Director, Technical Cooperation Asia Pacific (TCAP) and Director, Technical Cooperation Africa (TCAF) also addressed the participants.