Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), has emphasised Pakistan’s contributions towards the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and science in the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar, who delivered the address at the Plenary Session of the Conference, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the mandate of the IAEA and its initiatives for the peaceful use of nuclear technology in the socio-economic development of the world.
The PAEC chairman emphasised the importance of nuclear energy as a means to enhance energy security and contribute to climate change measures. He said Pakistan has six operational nuclear power plants which are safely producing 3530MW electricity, thus preventing carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 15 million tonnes annually.
He also gave a briefing on the progress achieved at the Chashma-5 (C-5) Nuclear Power Plant, noting that the project was approaching the time for the installation of the plant’s dome.
Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar said Pakistan had 83 nuclear medicine and radiotherapy centres, including 21 PAEC cancer hospitals that offer cancer diagnosis and therapy services in the health field.
He also pointed out the designation of the PAEC Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) as an IAEA Collaborating Centre in April 2026.
Talking about food security and water resource management, the chairman of the PAEC spoke about the role of the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) and the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), both of which are IAEA Collaborating Centres.
He also pointed out Pakistan’s involvement in the IAEA – FAO Atoms for Food programme.
Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar emphasised the role of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), the National Institute of Safety and Security (NISAS) and the Pakistan Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Security (PCENS) in the national and international capacity-building field in the context of nuclear safety and security.
He also announced that the 4th International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO) will be organised in Pakistan in 2027.
The news comes after the Pakistani students who participated in the 3rd INSO in Saudi Arabia won one gold and two silver medals.