DURING his recent visit to Vienna, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding cooperation with the Agency. The IAEA Director General acknowledged Pakistan’s experience and expertise in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and appreciated the country’s strong record in nuclear safety and security.
In September 2025, Pakistan signed the Country Programme Framework (CPF) 2026–2031 with the IAEA, which serves as the medium-term planning framework for technical cooperation and identifies priority areas for the transfer of nuclear technology to support national development goals. These developments reflect Pakistan’s responsible role in promoting peaceful nuclear applications, fulfilling its commitments at the United Nations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and strengthening cooperation with the IAEA.
As one of the founding members of the IAEA, Pakistan has, for decades, contributed constructively to the Agency’s mission of promoting safe and responsible nuclear applications for human development, power generation, healthcare, food security, industrial use, and education. Pakistan has consistently taken concrete steps to strengthen its regulatory frameworks and safety culture, efforts that have been repeatedly acknowledged at international forums. Over the years, the IAEA has recognized Pakistan’s constructive engagement in advancing the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
In September 2025, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Dr. Raja Ali Raza Anwar, met on the sidelines of the 69th IAEA General Conference in Vienna, where the Director General praised Pakistan’s contributions and progress. Earlier in 2025, during his visit to Pakistan, Grossi described Chashma-5 as a major milestone in the country’s pursuit of clean and sustainable energy. Moreover, Pakistan’s invitation to actively participate in the upcoming Nuclear Energy Summit in France in March 2026 further demonstrates international recognition of Pakistan as a responsible nuclear state.
At the national level, the latest report of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) identified Pakistan’s nuclear power plants—particularly C-2 to C-4—as top performers in terms of availability, safety, and efficiency. These plants serve as benchmarks in the energy sector by providing reliable, high-capacity base-load power with high operational standards and minimal environmental impact.
Globally, increasing nuclear energy capacity while reducing reliance on fossil fuels is widely recognized as essential for sustainable development. For Pakistan, nuclear energy is directly linked to its development goals and energy security. Peaceful nuclear applications offer significant potential for environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and economic growth. Energy remains central to national development, and countries heavily dependent on imported fuels are particularly vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. Pakistan currently faces energy supply disruptions, high import dependence, unaffordable tariffs, load-shedding, and declining oil and gas reserves. Expanding indigenously generated nuclear energy can help address these challenges.
Despite discriminatory global nuclear governance structures, Pakistan has responsibly utilized nuclear technology to advance its development objectives. The country places the highest priority on nuclear and radiation safety and maintains a robust safety and security regime aligned with international standards. There is a growing need for inclusive international cooperation to promote sustainable development through peaceful nuclear applications. Developed nations, beyond moral responsibility, also bear legal obligations toward climate justice by supporting countries disproportionately affected by climate change.
—The writer is Associate Director Research, BTTN, BUITEMS, Quetta.
