- Lauds IAEA role in enhancing peaceful use of nuclear tech, holding first-ever nuclear energy summit
- Highlights Pakistan’s desire to enhance share of nuclear energy in energy mix to combat climate change
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called upon the multilateral development institutions to consider aggressive financing for nuclear energy projects.
In a video message on the sidelines of the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels, he said this will help the developing countries install nuclear energy plants.
He said other heads of delegations at the summit also asked the international financial institutions to consider the same. The Foreign Minister said nuclear energy is regarded as the safest source of energy after hydro. He said Pakistan has installed nuclear energy capacity of more than thirty-five hundred megawatts.
Earlier, in a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General (DG) Rafael Mariano Grossi on the sidelines of the Nuclear Energy Summit, FM Dar stressed that international financial institutions and banks should support nuclear energy projects in developing countries to enable them to meet their energy needs and achieve zero emissions goals.
He appreciated the IAEA’s role in enhancing peaceful use of nuclear technology and for organising the first-ever nuclear energy summit. The minister highlighted that as a founder member, Pakistan attached great importance to the agency’s work.
Dar also highlighted the importance of nuclear energy in combating climate change and Pakistan’s desire to enhance share of nuclear energy in the energy mix.
He also underscored the importance of technical cooperation work of the UN nuclear watchdog to which Pakistan is also making significant contribution.
The minister urged IAEA to continue its role in sensitising the world about the importance of nuclear energy as a clean source.
The DG IAEA appreciated Pakistan’s collaboration with the agency. He added that in Asia, Pakistan is playing a key role in sharing experience and expertise with developing countries.
He agreed that financing of nuclear projects was an issue and that he would soon engage with international financial institutions to resolve the issue.
The DG recalled his visit to Pakistan last year, when he had the first-hand experience of visiting Pakistan’s facilities and witnessing Pakistan’s progress in the field of peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
