February 17, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the peaceful and responsible use of nuclear technology, emphasizing its continued focus on harnessing nuclear science for socio-economic development and public welfare.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) , Rafael Mariano Grossi, at the Vienna International Centre.
Both sides discussed cooperation in cancer diagnosis and treatment, agriculture, nuclear power generation and industrial applications, while the IAEA chief praised Pakistan’s expertise in nuclear safety and security and welcomed its expected participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit in France in March 2026.
An agreement was also signed designating the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology as an IAEA Collaborating Centre, according to a press release issued.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted that Pakistan continues to benefit from the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme while also contributing through expert support and international training initiatives, whereas Director General Grossi commended the high standard of Pakistani engineers, scientists and technicians and acknowledged the country’s growing role in advancing peaceful nuclear applications worldwide.
