Islamabad, Pakistan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed a new six-year Country Programme Framework (CPF) to strengthen cooperation in peaceful nuclear applications. The agreement covers critical areas including food security, healthcare, climate resilience, and energy.

The fifth CPF (2026–2031) was signed on the sidelines of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria, by Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), and Hua Liu, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation.

Key Priority Areas

The framework identifies five priority sectors:

Food and Agriculture – expanding nuclear techniques to enhance crop yields, control pests, and improve livestock health.

Human Health and Nutrition – strengthening nuclear medicine and radiation oncology across 20 Atomic Energy Cancer Hospitals treating over 1 million patients annually.

Climate Change & Water Resource Management – using isotope hydrology and other nuclear tools to manage water resources and adapt to climate challenges.

Nuclear Power – supporting safe operations, waste management, and lifecycle planning, with nuclear already contributing 18% of Pakistan’s electricity.

Radiation & Nuclear Safety – reinforcing safety frameworks to ensure responsible use of nuclear technology.

Aligned with Pakistan’s national development agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the CPF spans three IAEA technical cooperation cycles.

“The signing of this Country Programme Framework reaffirms Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology,” said Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar, PAEC Chairman.

“With the support of the IAEA, Pakistan will continue to harness these tools to address food security, improve healthcare, strengthen energy security, and safeguard our environment.”

Hua Liu described the agreement as a “shared vision for sustainable development through peaceful nuclear cooperation.”