Addressing the first Nuclear Security Summit in Brussels, the foreign minister said Pakistan has 100 reactor-years’ experience in safely operating nuclear power plants as Pakistan’s first nuclear power plant was built in Karachi in 1960.
Ishaq Dar said that currently, six nuclear power plants are working in Pakistan, adding that given the domestic energy demand, the nuclear power sector is being preferred.
“At this time, the world needs affordable energy and environmentally friendly and cheap nuclear energy is the best option for the needs,” the foreign minister said.
He said that Pakistan is ready to share its experiences for peaceful purposes of nuclear power,” the foreign minister added.
Ishaq Dar said that sustainable measures are indispensable for solving energy issues. He said that Pakistan values partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), hoping to extend cooperation with it.
IAEA Collaborating Centers
“We have three IAEA collaborating centers for nuclear safety and security, food and agriculture, and Applications of Innovative Nuclear Technologies. We wish to further enhance our cooperation on initiatives of DG IAEA including ‘Atoms4NetZero’, ‘Atoms4Food’, ‘Rays of Hope’, ‘Zodiac’, ‘NUTEC Plastics’ and ‘Marie Curie fellowships’,” Ishaq Dar added.
The foreign minister said that the summit is in place in times of rising energy demands and associated supply-side challenges triggered by wars, contestations, and climate change concerns. “For both developed and developing countries, energy security is a top priority,” he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ishaq Dar said that economic diplomacy will make Pakistan stronger asking the country’s ambassadors and high commissioners to prioritize investment opportunities in the country, ARY News reported.
Addressing participants of a meeting held at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Wednesday, Ishaq Dar said that in the current circumstances, Pakistan needs to prioritize economic diplomacy in addition to conventional diplomacy.
“In this sense, the goal of Pakistan’s overseas missions should be to draw in investments, the foreign minister said.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan is endowed with abundant natural resources and excellent human capital. “If a logical plan is implemented to impose fiscal restraint and reduce the external deficit, the nation has all the makings of a great economy,” he added.