ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been elected as a member of the Board of Governors (BOG) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for a two-year term from 2024-26. Pakistan was elected by consensus from the Middle East and South Asia region at the 68th session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna for a term beginning this month. This is Pakistan’s 21st term on the IAEA Board of Governors, a foreign ministry press release said on Friday. “Pakistan’s election is a recognition of its long-standing commitment to the goals and objectives of the IAEA in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as well as its positive contribution to the formulation of IAEA policies and programmes,” the FO spokesperson noted. Pakistan is a founding member of the IAEA and has long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation with the agency in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Pakistan hosts the Anchor Center for Cancer Care under the IAEA Rays of Hope initiative and four centers for cooperation in the areas of food and agriculture, nuclear safety and security, water resources management and innovative applications of nuclear technology. In addition, the country has six nuclear power plants in operation with a total capacity of 3530 MW of clean energy. Another 1200 MW nuclear power plant is under construction. The spokesman reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to share its experience and expertise in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology with IAEA member states through the agency’s technical cooperation program and cooperation frameworks. Earlier this month, Pakistan was also elected as the president of the tenth review session of the Convention on Nuclear Security (CNS).
