Pakistan participates in the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century

Washington D.C : Pakistan participates in the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century.

Nuclear power has a vital contribution to make in addressing the challenge of providing access to secure, affordable and reliable energy in a climate responsible manner.

This was said by Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Raja Ali Raza Anwar at the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century that is presently underway in Washington D.C., United States. Speaking about Pakistan’s nuclear power programme, Mr. Anwar said that Pakistan’s energy needs were projected to grow exponentially in the coming years and reliance on imported fuels was not viable financially and environmentally in the long run.

Nuclear power, therefore, was envisaged to be an important element in Pakistan’s energy mix, he said. He added that as a clean and affordable source of energy, nuclear power held special significance for an energy deficient country like Pakistan that was also highly vulnerable to Climate Change and associated natural catastrophes.

He stated that nuclear power accounted for almost 13 precent of the country’s electricity needs at economically competitive rates. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokher is also part of Pakistan’s delegation along with Member (Power) Mr. Muhammad Saeed ur Rehman and Member (Engineering) Mr Aslam Umer from PAEC as well as Ms Batool Kazim, Counselor from Pakistan Embassy in Washington.

The delegation is also holding bilateral meetings on the margins of the Conference with a view to exploring opportunities for cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology under the IAEA auspices. In these interactions, he highlighted that Pakistan had been running a safe, secure and fully safeguarded civilian nuclear programme for decades and was ready to share its expertise with interested countries.

He underscored that international cooperation and dialogue were of central importance in fostering an enabling environment to unlock the full potential of nuclear power. He also stressed the need for removal of barriers for equitable and non-discriminatory access to civilian nuclear cooperation for developing countries. The Conference has been organized by the IAEA in partnership with the International Energy Agency and in cooperation with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. It is being hosted by the Government of the United States of America.