ISLAMABAD: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is going to provide Pakistan with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine, biohazard safety cabinets and test kits to support the country’s coronavirus response, the Foreign Office confirmed on Friday.
“The provision of this equipment will augment Pakistan’s national capacity to conduct COVID-19 tests which are crucial in containing the spread of the disease,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR) is a nuclear-derived method for detecting the presence of specific genetic material from any pathogen, including a virus, according to IAEA’s educational materials released by its office of public information.
Pakistan’s coronavirus testing capacity is still inadequate, as the country of 210 million conducts only 800 tests a day. While Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said on Monday that the government seeks to increase the number of tests conducted to 25,000 a day by the end of April, IAEA’s support should streamline the effort.
The real time RT-PCR technique is sensitive and specific and can deliver a reliable diagnosis within three hours. Compared with other methods, it has a lower potential for errors and according to IAEA, it is the most accurate method available for detection of the coronavirus.
The Pakistani embassy in Vienna, where IAEA’s headquarters are located, is in touch with the agency for the equipment’s early shipment to the country, the Foreign Office said, expressing gratitude for IAEA’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a founding member of the Agency, Pakistan has continued to benefit from its technical assistance in various fields including health, agriculture and energy while also contributing to Agency’s work in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technologies,” the statement read.
IAEA to provide Pakistan with nuclear tech-based coronavirus testing machines
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IAEA to provide Pakistan with nuclear tech-based coronavirus testing machines
- IAEA says nuclear-derived RT-PCR is the most accurate method for coronavirus detection
- Equipment from IAEA will help increase Pakistan’s COVID-19 testing capacity — Foreign Office
Pakistan to promote mineral sector at Saudi forum this month with 13 companies
- Delegation will take part in the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh from Jan. 13-15
- Petroleum minister will lead Pakistan, participate in a 90-minute country session
ISLAMABAD: Around 13 Pakistani state-owned and private companies will attend the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 13 to 15, an official statement said on Friday, as the country seeks to ramp up global engagement to develop its mineral resources.
The FMF is an international conference and investment platform for the mining sector, hosted by mineral-rich countries to attract global investors, companies and governments.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik confirmed Pakistan’s participation in a meeting with the Saudi envoy, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.
Pakistan hosts one of the world’s largest copper-gold zones. The Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan, with an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore, is partly owned by Barrick Gold, which calls it one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold deposits. Its development is expected to boost Pakistan’s struggling economy.
“Upon an invitation of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Federal Minister informed the Ambassador that Pakistan will fully participate in the upcoming Future Minerals Forum (FMF), scheduled to be held in Riyadh later this month,” Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said in an official statement.
The Pakistani minister will lead his country’s delegation at the FMF and take part in a 90-minute country showcase session titled “Unleashing Potential: Accelerating Pakistan’s Mineral Revolution” along with local and foreign investors.
Pakistan will also establish a dedicated pavilion to highlight the vast potential of its rich geological landscape to the global mineral community.
The Saudi envoy welcomed Pakistan’s decision to participate in the forum and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in the minerals and energy sectors during the meeting.
According to the statement, he highlighted the potential for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the minerals and energy sectors, expressing confidence that the FMF would provide a platform to expand collaboration.
Pakistan’s mineral sector, despite its rich reserves of salt, copper, gold and coal, contributes only 3.2 percent to the country’s GDP and just 0.1 percent to global mineral exports.
However, many countries, including the United States, have shown interest in Pakistan’s underdeveloped mineral sector, particularly in copper, gold and other critical resources.
In October, Pakistan dispatched its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States, according to a Chicago-based US public relations firm’s report.
