ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Mariano Grossi have agreed to expand cooperation on the use of nuclear technology to mitigate the impacts of climate change, the Pakistani foreign office said on Sunday.
The IAEA director general arrived in Pakistan this week on a days-long official visit to hold discussions with key officials, attend seminars and visit a nuclear power generation site.
During the visit, he called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy PM Ishaq Dar as well as heads of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA).
“Discussions focused on expanding cooperation between Pakistan and the IAEA, particularly on the peaceful uses of nuclear technology to mitigate climate change,” the foreign office said in a statement.
Pakistan — home to more than 240 million people — ranks among the nations that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The South Asian country has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns which have led to frequent heat waves, untimely rains, cyclones and droughts in recent years. Scientists have blamed the events on human-driven climate change.
In 2022, devastating floods, blamed on human-driven climate change, killed more than 1,700 Pakistanis, affected another 33 million and caused the country over $30 billion in economic losses.
During his meetings with the PAEC and PNRA chiefs, Grossi was briefed on Pakistan’s advancements in nuclear science and technology, including its contributions in agriculture, health care and energy production.
The IAEA chief visited the under construction Chashma Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5) along the left embankment of the fast-flowing Indus River in Mianwali.
“He termed Pakistan’s nuclear power generation program as one of the most successful programs in the world,” the foreign office said. “Mr. Grossi also inaugurated a radioactive waste incinerator at Chashma.”
In Islamabad, the IAEA chief attended the International Conference organized by the Pakistan-chapter of Women in Nuclear Field (WIN-Pakistan) and delivered a keynote address at a seminar on the “Role of Nuclear Science and Technology in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals,” organized by the think-tank Strategic Vision Institute (SVI).
He also visited the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Oncology Lahore (INMOL) and inaugurated a new radiopharmaceutical laboratory and announced technical assistance to Pakistan under the IAEA’s ‘Rays of Hope’ initiative.
The IAEA, the United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog, promotes the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology worldwide. Pakistan has collaborated with the agency since 1957 and operates a civil nuclear power program under IAEA safeguards.
While Pakistan is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it has voluntary safeguards agreements with the IAEA and actively works to ensure its nuclear facilities comply with international safety standards.
Pakistani officials, IAEA chief agree on use of nuclear technology to mitigate climate woes
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Pakistani officials, IAEA chief agree on use of nuclear technology to mitigate climate woes
- IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi met senior officials and inaugurated a radioactive waste incinerator in Pakistan this week
- Pakistan has been collaborating with the agency since 1957 and operates a civil nuclear power program under IAEA safeguards
Pakistan explores ferry shipping to boost trade with Yemen, regional markets
- Pakistan commerce minister meets Yemeni envoy to discuss enhancing trade cooperation
- Yemeni ambassador calls for reviving bilateral agreements, strengthening trade mechanisms
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said on Friday that his ministry is exploring the possibility of introducing ferry-based shipping services with Yemen to cut freight costs and boost bilateral, regional trade.
Pakistan has been attempting to enhance its ferry-based services with Middle Eastern countries in recent months. Islamabad granted its first-ever ferry service license to an international operator, Sea Keepers, for routes connecting Pakistan with Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in August. Last month, Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved a ferry service to Oman from the southwestern port of Gwadar to boost trade and tourism.
Khan met Yemen’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Mohammed Motahar Alashabi, in Islamabad on Friday where both sides discussed enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
“Jam Kamal highlighted the importance of creating efficient, low-cost logistics channels for small and medium enterprises and informed H.E. Alashabi that the ministry is examining the introduction of ferry-based small shipping services to reduce freight costs and improve turnaround time for regional trade,” the commerce ministry said.
“Both sides expressed confidence that sustained dialogue, improved logistics, and revival of formal cooperation mechanisms will help unlock new opportunities for trade and investment between Pakistan and Yemen.”
Alashabi expressed Yemen’s desire to expand commercial engagement with Pakistan, the commerce ministry said, stressing that Yemen continues to regard Islamabad as a “trusted partner” despite logistical and regional challenges in recent years.
He said nearly 300 Yemeni students are studying in Pakistan, highlighting strong people-to-people ties and confidence in Pakistan’s educational institutions. He stressed the need to revive bilateral agreements and strengthen mechanisms to boost trade between the nations.
Kamal said Pakistan placed a lot of emphasis on expanding trade with regional and nearby markets, adding that Pakistan’s growing entrepreneurial and SME sectors could benefit from improved access to close-proximity markets such as Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Oman.
