Pakistan on Wednesday said the selection of its nuclear institution and scientists among the recipients of IAEA-FAO awards was recognition of the country’s advancement in the application of nuclear technology for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including food security.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have jointly conferred Outstanding Achievement Award on Pakistan’s Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said.
The Team Achievement Award for work in the same area has also gone to a group of four scientists in the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).
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The third award, Young Scientist Award, has also been bagged by a PAEC scientist for work in plant mutation breeding and related technologies, it said.
According to the press release, the awards certificates will be presented during the IAEA’s 65th General Conference in September 2021.
Another achievement for Pakistan’s nuclear program and our scientists.
Pakistan Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) and PAEC scientists win awards from the IAEA and FAO. pic.twitter.com/7Kqe6lSy3k
— Husham Ahmed (@hushamahmed) June 23, 2021
“Extensive civilian nuclear applications in Pakistan are directly contributing to the well being of the people and national development in the areas of public health, medicine, agriculture, industry and nuclear power generation,” it added.
IAEA provides nuclear-based covid-19 testing equipment
The Foreign Office stated last year that The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to provide Pakistan with the equipment for testing of COVID-19 by using the nuclear-derived technique.
“The IAEA will provide Pakistan with a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine, bio-hazard safety cabinets, test kits and related consumer goods to help fight the novel coronavirus through the nuclear-derived technique,” the Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said at a press briefing.
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Aisha Farooqui further said that the Embassy of Pakistan in Vienna was coordinating with the IAEA for an early shipment of the equipment.
She said the provision of equipment would augment Pakistan’s national capacity to conduct COVID-19 tests, which was crucial in containing the spread of the disease.
“Pakistan deeply values the contribution of IAEA and its leadership for helping the member states in their efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.
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“We also acknowledge the generous contribution of the IAEA member states to boost scientific and technical capacities of other countries in combating this global crisis.”
APP with additional input by GVS News Desk