Islamabad, Sep 20: Pakistan has been elected to the Board of Governors (BOG) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for a two-year term beginning in 2024–2026.
At the 68th Session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Pakistan was chosen by consensus to serve as the organization’s representative for the Middle East and South Asia region for the term that starts this month. According to a press release from the Foreign Office on Friday, this is Pakistan’s 21st term on the IAEA Board of Governors.
“The FO spokesperson stated that Pakistan’s election is an acknowledgement of its long-standing dedication to the IAEA’s goals and objectives in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy as well as its positive contribution to the formulation of the IAEA’s policies and programs.” Pakistan was one of the founding members of the IAEA and has collaborated with the organization on peaceful applications of nuclear energy for a long time in a mutually beneficial manner.
Pakistan is home to four Collaboration Centers in the fields of Food & Agriculture, Nuclear Safety & Security, Water Resource Management, and Innovative Nuclear Technology Applications, as well as the Anchor Centre for Cancer Care under the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative. Additionally, the nation is home to six nuclear power facilities that together produce 3530 MW of clean energy.
Another 1200 MW nuclear power facility is now being built. The spokesman reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to sharing with IAEA Member States, through the Agency’s Technical Cooperation Program and Collaborative Frameworks, its knowledge and expertise in peaceful applications of nuclear technology. Pakistan was also chosen to lead the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) during its Tenth Review meeting earlier this month.
