Pakistani nuclear scientists to get IAEA awards in September — foreign office

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani nuclear scientists are going to receive three awards from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in September, the foreign office announced on Wednesday.
The IAEA and FAO’s Outstanding Achievement Award will be conferred on Pakistan’s Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), while the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) will receive Team Achievement Award and Young Scientist Award for work in plant mutation breeding.
According to a statement by the foreign office, the awards are in recognition of Pakistan’s advancement in the application of nuclear technology for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including food security. 
“The awards certificates will be presented during the IAEA’s 65th General Conference in September 2021,” the foreign office said.
Pakistan has a long history of working with nuclear science, applications and power. It was the sixth country to ratify the IAEA Statute and, in doing so, provided one of the 18 ratifications required to bring the Statute and IAEA mandate, into force.
The IAEA has been supporting the country’s efforts to train specialist staff.
In December 2019, it designated the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) as an IAEA Collaborating Center to support its research, development and capacity building in the application of advanced and innovative nuclear technologies.