Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) role in the promotion of responsible use of nuclear technology during an official visit to Vienna.
According to a handout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday, PM Shehbaz met IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at the Vienna International Centre.
“The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for IAEA’s role in the promotion of responsible use of nuclear technology in areas such as cancer diagnosis and treatment, agriculture, nuclear power generation and industrial applications,” the statement said.
“He praised the strong partnership between Pakistan and the IAEA, while observing that Pakistan was not only a beneficiary of the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme but was also contributing to the work of the IAEA through the provision of its experts and conducting international trainings for IAEA member states,” the press release said.
The handout added that the IAEA director general acknowledged Pakistan’s “experience and expertise in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and the high quality of its engineers, scientists and technicians”.
“Among other things, he appreciated Pakistan’s contribution to the work of the IAEA in the areas of nuclear safety and security,” the statement said.
It said that Grossi further said that Pakistan was “well placed” to help other member states in the “peaceful applications of nuclear technology”.
He also looked forward to Pakistan’s “active participation” in the Nuclear Energy Summit being organised by France in March 2026, the statement said.
Later, an agreement was signed on the designation of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL) in Lahore as an IAEA collaborating centre.
The statement said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who was also present, and Grossi signed the agreement.
In a post on X, Dar said it was “good catching up” with Grossi.
“We discussed the vital role of the IAEA in advancing peaceful uses of nuclear technology and strengthening global nuclear safety and security,” he said.
“Conveyed my best wishes for his continued efforts in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technology and sustainable development,” he added.
Grossi said in a post on X on Monday night that he was honoured to welcome PM Shehbaz.
“His visit underscored Pakistan’s commitment to the safe and responsible use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” he said.
He further said that he was proud to designate INMOL as an IAEA collaborating centre as “we strengthen our cooperation to expand cancer care, radiopharmaceutical production and nuclear medicine services, among others”.
‘Development must be inclusive and equitable’
Later in the day, PM Shehbaz addressed an event titled “Sustainable Development: Pathway for Global Peace and Prosperity”, calling for development to be inclusive and equitable.
The premier called for a renewed global commitment to sustainable and inclusive development.
He maintained that a renewed commitment was the “only viable pathway to durable peace and shared prosperity in a world facing intertwined crises”.
The prime minister said the world stood at a crossroads where geopolitical hostility, climate stress and technological disruption were converging into a single destabilising force.
“The defining danger of our time is not any single threat, but the combination of many,” he said, warning that poverty, debt distress, mass displacement and unresolved political conflicts were intensifying global instability.
The prime minister further emphasised that sustainable development must be inclusive and equitable, leaving no one behind.
“Development cannot be called sustainable if it excludes millions from the promise of a better life,” he added.
Highlighting the “disproportionate burden” borne by developing countries, he said nations contributing least to global emissions were paying the heaviest price in terms of climate change, economic volatility and debt distress.
The prime minister said Pakistan contributed less than one per cent to global emissions but remained among the most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters.
He also recalled the devastating floods of 2022 that claimed over 1,700 lives, destroyed crops and infrastructure, and displaced millions, adding that subsequent floods had compounded the challenges.
“These disasters erode human security at its core,” he said, stressing that sustainable development must be anchored in equity, justice and fair play.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the prime minister said the government had integrated them into national development planning, focusing on human development, education, healthcare, food security and social protection, particularly for women and youth.
He said that Pakistan’s large youth population presented both a challenge and an opportunity, underscoring the need for investment in skills, digital transformation and institutional strengthening to harness their potential.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s advocacy for dialogue, diplomacy and multilateralism as the only viable means to resolve disputes and prevent conflict, despite facing aggression and violations of international commitments.
He stressed the need to reinforce and reform the United Nations system to enable it to effectively serve as a pillar of global peace and cooperation.
Highlighting Vienna’s unique role within the UN system, he said the city hosted key institutions dealing with counter-terrorism, crime prevention, industrial development and the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and outer space.
Pakistan, he said, greatly valued its constructive engagement with IAEA, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other Vienna-based entities and remained committed to supporting their mandates.
He also underscored the importance of capacity building, knowledge sharing and technology transfer to ensure that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology benefited all humanity rather than a privileged few.
“Unaddressed digital divides will soon become entrenched development divides,” he warned, urging the international community to address the root causes of global challenges instead of merely managing their consequences.
Later, the prime minister attended a ceremony for the signing of the UNIDO Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) Pakistan 2025–2030, the UNODC Country Programme Pakistan, and a cooperation agreement between the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) and the IAEA.
Grossi also attended the event, during which he said he had visited different nuclear facilities in Pakistan, including the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit, which he said was quite impressive.
He expressed commitment to continue collaboration with Pakistan, which he said will continue and strengthen.
About the Author
