Daily Times

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed greater collaboration with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in terms of research on new high-yield and drought resistant varieties of crops.

In a meeting with Director General IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi, the prime minister emphasized collaboration in view of the impact of climate change on Pakistan and related challenges including water, energy and food security. Shehbaz Sharif noted the contribution of nuclear power generation to Pakistan’s energy mix as a cleaner and more affordable source of energy.

The prime minister appreciated the ongoing cooperation between the IAEA and Pakistan in the areas of health, agriculture, industry, nuclear medicine and power generation. He expressed Pakistan’s full support for various projects and programmes of the Agency and conveyed Pakistan’s keenness to expand its footprints in the Agency’s work both as a recipient and provider of expertise and technical assistance.

Director General Grossi was briefed about the crucial role being played by the 19 cancer hospitals being operated by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) which were bearing the bulk of cancer burden in Pakistan and offering services to the general public at nominal rates.

The IAEA DGagreed to the need for expanding applications of nuclear technology in countries like Pakistan to address a whole suite of climate-related challenges. He expressed his appreciation for the good work of the agricultural research institutions in Pakistan, including NIAB which is one of the IAEA Collaborating Centers in Pakistan.

Acknowledging Pakistan’s expertise in nuclear applications in various fields the Director General noted the important role Pakistan can play for supporting the Agency’s work including its ‘Ray of Hope’ initiative for cancer treatment.

Meanwhile, Rafael Mariano Grossi said that the IAEA intended to expand cooperation with Pakistan in different fields, especially in its efforts to provide latest treatment facilities to the cancer patients. He was speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the latest Cyberknife facility at Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC)’s flagship cancer-care hospital in the capital, namely Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI). The IAEA DG hoped that the newly inaugurated Cyberknife facility was multiplying theuropic capacities in Pakistan to treat the cancer patients.

He said that the IAEA had launched a global programme called Rays of Hope more than a year ago, which was aimed at increasing the availability of radiotherapy facilities in particular in the developing countries, with a huge deficit in this area.

Rafael said that Rays of Hope project was aimed at bringing radiotherapy facilities for those who did not have it. “Pakistan has top notch facilities in NORI and wonderful professionals to treat cancer patients while many other countries lack such facilities”, he said adding, “This hospital in Pakistan is equipped with the latest technology and has the potential to even extend this facility to the other countries.”