| ماموریہ جوہری توانائی پاکستان | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1956; 69 years ago (1956) |
| Headquarters | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Employees | 120,000–130,000[1] |
| Annual budget | Classified |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | National Command Authority (NCA) |
| Website | http://www.paec.gov.pk/ |
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) (Urdu:ماموریہ جوہری توانائی پاکستان,romanized: māmūrīa jauhrī tawānā'ī pākistān) is a federally fundedindependent governmental agency, concerned with research and development ofnuclear power, promotion ofnuclear science,energy conservation and the peaceful use ofnuclear technology.[2][3]
Since its establishment in 1956, the PAEC has overseen the extensive development of nuclear infrastructure to support the economical uplift of Pakistan by founding institutions that focus on development onfood irradiation and onnuclear medicine radiation therapy forcancer treatment.[4][5] The PAEC organizes conferences and directs research at the country's leading universities.[6]Since the 1960s, the PAEC has also been a scientific research partner and sponsor of theEuropean Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), where Pakistani scientists have contributed to developingparticle accelerators and research onhigh-energy physics.[7] PAEC scientists regularly visit CERN to join projects led by the European organization.[8]
Until 2001, the PAEC was the civilian federal oversight agency that manifested the control ofatomic radiation, development ofnuclear weapons, andtheir testing. These functions were eventually taken over by thePakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), and theNational Command Authority under thePrime Minister of Pakistan.[9]
Following thepartition of theBritish Indian Empire by the United Kingdom in 1947, Pakistan emerged as a Muslim-dominated state.[10] Theturbulent nature of its emergence critically influenced the scientific development of Pakistan.[10]
The establishment of theCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) in 1951 began Pakistan's research on physical sciences.[11] In 1953, U.S. PresidentDwight Eisenhower announced theAtoms for Peace program, of which Pakistan became its earliest partner.[12] Research at PAEC initially followed a strict non-weapon policy issued by then-Foreign Minister SirZafarullah Khan.[12] In 1955, the Government of Pakistan established a committee of scientists to preparenuclear energy plans and build an industrial nuclear infrastructure throughout the country.[13] As the Energy Council Act went into full effect, Prime MinisterHuseyn Suhrawardy established the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in March 1956.[12] Its first chair wasNazir Ahmad – anexperimental physicist.[12] Other members of the PAEC included Technical memberSalimuzzaman Siddiqui, anorganic chemist at theUniversity of Karachi, andRaziuddin Siddiqui, amathematical physicist at the same university.[12] Together, they both took charge of the research and development directorates of the commission.[13] In 1958,Abdus Salam of theUniversity of the Punjab also joined the commission, along withMunir Ahmad Khan who initially lobbied for acquiring anopen pool reactor from the United States.[13]
In 1958, PAEC Chairman Nazir Ahmad proposed to thePakistan Industrial Development Corporation the building of aheavy water production facility with the capacity to produce 50 kg of heavy water per day atMultan, but this proposal was not acted on.[12] In 1960,I. H. Usmani was elevated as PAEC's second chair with the transfer of Nazir Ahmad at theFederal Bureau of Statistics.[12] TheMultan Heavy Water Production Facility reactor was built in 1962, financed by local fertilizer companies.[14] In 1964, PAEC established its first research institute, thePakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), atNilore, and began negotiation for Pakistan's first commercial nuclear power plant to be built inKarachi.[12] In 1965, the PAEC reached an agreement withCanadian General Electric to build aCANDU reactor in Karachi.[12] Financial investment for theKarachi Nuclear Power Plant was provided by theEconomic Coordination Committee, andEdward Durell Stone was commissioned to oversee the architectural design of PINSTECH.[12] From 1965–71, the PAEC sent 600 scientists abroad for training in nuclear sciences.[12] in 1969, theUnited Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, agreed to supply a small scalenuclear reprocessing plant, with the capacity to extract 360 grams ofplutonium per year.[12] In 1973, the PAEC announced the discovery of large uranium deposits inPunjab.[12]
After India's decisive victory in theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971, Pakistan retracted its non-weapon policy and the research and development ofnuclear weapons began in 1972.[12] PAEC's seniornuclear engineerMunir Ahmad Khan, was named as PAEC's third chair by Prime MinisterZulfikar Ali Bhutto.[15] Work began on development of thenuclear fuel cycle infrastructure, and nuclear weapons research in the 1970s.[16] Key research took place at PINSTECH, where scientists worked on weapon designs and eventualnuclear weapons testing.[17] The PAEC expanded the crash program with various laboratories, facilities, and directorates researching on developing and testing materials and components forbomb designs, whilst it engineered plants and funded facilities for production ofhighly enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium.[17] In 1976, possible test sites were decided by the PAEC and construction on the sites was completed in 1979.[17] In 1983, PAEC's efforts reached a milestone when it conducted its firstsubcritical test on a weapon design; such testing continued until the early 1990s under codename:Kirana-I.[17]
Following nuclear tests by India earlier in the month, on 28 May 1998, PAEC led the final preparations and conducted Pakistan's firstnuclear tests (Codename:Chagai-I), which was followed byChagai-II inKharan Desert on 30 May 1998. In 2001, the PAEC's research was focused back onto civilian and peaceful research with the establishment of theNational Command Authority and thePakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority.[18]
Since its establishment in 1956, the PAEC has provided a conspicuous example of the benefits ofatomic age technologies for the advancement of agriculture, engineering, biology, and medicine.[19][20] In 1960, the PAEC established its firstnuclear medicine centre for cancer treatment at the Jinnah Medical College of theUniversity of Karachi; the second Medical Isotope Institute was established at theMayo Hospital of theKing Edward Medical University, Lahore.[21] Physicians and medical researchers were provided with facilities for cancer diagnosis and treatment by the PAEC's funding.[21]
In 1960, the PAEC established its regional atomic research centre inLahore, and a metallurgy centre in Karachi in 1963.[22] Another energy centre was located inDhaka where many scientists were educated.[22] In 1967, the PAEC founded theInstitute of Engineering and Applied Sciences which became one of the primary technical universities of the country. Many of the PAEC's scientists and engineers served in its faculty.[22] The PAEC supports its university-level physics program at theGovernment College University, Lahore where it awards fellowships to the students. The PAEC continues to promotes its program as "peaceful uses of atomic energy commenced for the benefit the scientific community as well as public."[23]
About its promotion of education, senior scientist,Ishfaq Ahmad quoted: "the PAEC was responsible to send more than 600 scientists to the abroad.[12] As of present, PAEC maintains its prestigious image, and is now noted as one of the largestscience and technology institution of the country.[24] The PAEC supports research activities and learning programs at theInternational Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), of which PAEC is also its organizer.[25] Since 1974, the PAEC has been a key organizer and sponsor of theInternational Nathiagali Summer College on Physics and Contemporary Needs conference each year where scientists from all over the world are delegated to the country.[26] The Summer College disseminates the knowledge of advancements in physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, mathematics, computer science, logic, and philosophy.[26]
As the emphasis shifted towards concerns fornational security interests, the PAEC's important projects were also initiated in this area.[18] Many notable scientists with international prestige have worked and affiliated with the PAEC.[18]
PAEC also provided useful services inPakistan like free religious and science education for more than 2000 poor children, EmpoweringPakistani women by giving them basic education especially insuburbs by Hunargah (vocational training centers). PAEC has also established Centers for Retired Employees Welfare (CREW) in Lahore, Islamabad andKarachi for meetings, discussions and problems solving.
PAEC is held responsible for design preparation and proper operational function of Pakistan'scommercial nuclear power plants. The PAEC provides lobbying at the governmental level for the safe usage of nuclear power sources; though thenuclear safety regulations, Protection of the nuclear power facilities is managed by thePakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA). Providing policy guidance to the government, PAEC's studies envision setting up power plants with a capacity of approximately 8800Megawatts by 2030.[27]
Under this policy, theKANUPP power plants andCHASHNUPP power plants are expanding and under construction as of 2013.[28]
Pakistan has a long history of participating in experiments and research undertakings withCERN, and has a long tradition of physicists who are working around the world.[29] Since the 1960s, Pakistan has been contributing and regularly participating in CERN's projects, theoretical and nuclear experiments.[29] A prime example would beAbdus Salam; Salam was the first man to be accredited with all the collaboration with CERN which when he convinced them to give Pakistan stacks ofnuclear emulsions exposed for further study ofpions,kaons andantiprotons in the 1960s.[30] Some theoretical physicists from Pakistan had the opportunity to work at CERN through short visits.[29] During the 1980s, some of the experimental physicists from Pakistan, specialising in the technique ofSolid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD), also benefited from CERN by exposing the stacks in the beam at theSuper Proton Synchrotron (SPS).[29]
In 2005, CERN awarded PAEC with the ATLAS Supplier Award in 2005, in connection with manufacturing and fabrication of various equipment for CERN.[31]
On 27 June 2011, PAEC and CERN reached an agreement for extending the technical cooperation with CERN's upcoming programmes.[31] CERN's Director-GeneralRolf-Dieter Heuer personally paid a visit to Pakistan where he spoke of the importance ofscience in Pakistan, and the importance of Germany's strategic alliance with Pakistan.[citation needed] The agreement was signed in order to extend an earlier agreement, which came into operation in 2003 between CERN and Pakistan for the supply of manufactured equipment for theLarge Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, along with placement of scientists and engineers from Pakistan to assist in the scientific programme at CERN.[31]
With the efforts led by the PAEC, CERN made Pakistan an associate member, on 22 June 2014— the first Asian country and the second Muslim country afterTurkey.[32]
In 1997 PAEC chairmanIshfaq Ahmad reached out to CERN to sign a contract between them after elaborate discussions an in-kind contribution worth one million Swiss francs for the construction of eight magnet supports for theCompact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector.[30]
For the CMS, the PAEC built magnetic feet and installed 320 Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC), as well as contributing to CMS computing. Several other mechanical components for ATLAS and for the LHC were also built by the PAEC.[33] It was PAEC's efforts that led thePakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) with CERN's direct cooperation in the area of radioprotection.[33]
In 2000, CERN signed another agreement which doubled the Pakistani contribution from one to two million Swiss francs. And with this new agreement Pakistan started construction of the resistive plate chambers required for the CMSmuon system. While more recently, a protocol has been signed enhancing Pakistan's total contribution to the LHC programme to $10 million. Pakistan with all these efforts is already hoping to become an observer state at CERN.[29][30] In 2006 PAEC and CERN agreed on expanded cooperation, including contributions by PAEC valued at 5 million Swiss francs.[34]
The PAEC, partnered with Pakistan's leading universities, sent a large team of scientists and engineers toCERN to participate in theLarge Hadron Collider on 10 September 2008.[35] According to the news sources, the team of Pakistani scientists were keenly involved in the development of the Large Hadron Collider— theworld's largest and highest-energyparticle accelerator.[35]
The data of the experiment was available for the Pakistani scientists who would examine the data and results would be accumulated afterwards by them.[36]
| Order | Individual authority | Term start | Termination | Alma mater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nazir Ahmed | 11 March 1956 | 21 May 1960 | University of Cambridge Aligarh Muslim University |
| 2 | Ishrat Hussain Usmani | 15 July 1960 | 10 January 1972 | Imperial College London Aligarh Muslim University |
| 3 | Munir Ahmad Khan | 20 January 1972 | 19 March 1991 | North Carolina State University University of the Punjab |
| 4 | Ishfaq Ahmad Khan | 7 April 1991 | 6 April 2001 | Université de Montréal University of the Punjab |
| 5 | Parvez Butt | 29 December 2001 | 5 April 2006 | University of Toronto University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore |
| 6 | Anwar Ali | 1 May 2006 | 31 March 2009 | University of Manchester Government College University, Lahore |
| 7 | Ansar Pervaiz | 7 April 2009 | 5 April 2015 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Quaid-i-Azam University |
| 8 | Muhammad Naeem | 6 April 2015 | 5 April 2022 | Government College University, Lahore |
| 9 | Raja Ali Raza Anwer | 6 April 2022 | Present | University of Manchester |
On 26 June 2021, 4 scientists of the PAEC were awarded the Team Achievement Award and another scientist was awarded the Young Scientist Award for work in plant mutation breeding and related technologies.[37] These awards were bestowed in recognition of Pakistan's advancements in the application of nuclear technology for achieving the U.N.Sustainable Development Goals.[38] The awards were jointly awarded by theInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the U.N.'sFood and Agriculture Organization.[39]
The PAEC is chaired by a person appointed by theGovernment of Pakistan as specified in the government notification.[40] The PAEC's management is organized by the Government of Pakistan who awards contracts to the potential candidates.[40] Its full-time members consist of the appointed Chair; a finance member, and two technical members.[40] Its part-time members are composed of the senior scientists and the chief scientific adviser to the government.[40]
The PAEC's management are constitutionally bound to meet not less than four times every year for the execution of development projects involvingnuclear power stations and the generation ofelectric power.[40] The PAEC retains its autonomous management structure under theNational Command Authority.[41] The amendments carried out in 2010, the National Command Authority is now placed again under thePrime Minister of Pakistan.[41] The Chairman directly reports to thePrime Minister's Secretariat for its policy making and confirmation issues.[41]
| Individual figures and authority | Official designation | Term mandate |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Raja Ali Raza Anwer | Chairman, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission | Chairman |
| Mr. Muhammad Arshad | Member, PAEC | Member (Technical) |
| Mr. Arshad Ali Farooqi | Member, PAEC | Member (Fuel Cycle) |
| Mr. Mohsin Fayyaz | Member, PAEC | Member (Power) |
| Mr. Khalid Bin Sagheer | Member, PAEC | Member (System) |
| Mr. Shehzad Hasan | Finance Secretary,Ministry of Finance (Pakistan) | Member (Finance) |
| Dr. Shakeel Abbas | Member, PAEC | Member (Science) |
| Mr. Kaleem Haider | Member, PAEC | Member (Engineering) |
| Maj. Gen. Muhammad Asim Khan | Member, PAEC | Member (Administration) |
| Mr. Syed Farman Hussain | Member, PAEC | Member (Material) |
Since 1990, the PAEC has spun off multiple organization, some being partial subsidiaries or where PAEC had minority interests in past.
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