Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission

Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) (Urdu: ادارہ جوہری توانائی پاکستان ) is responsible for nuclear applications development in Pakistan.

History

The history of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission goes back to 1956, when the Atomic Energy Research Council was established. In 1964, 1965 and 1973 reorganization took place and the Atomic Energy Commission was incorporated as a statutory body under an Act, with considerable autonomy. In 1972 the commission was transferred from the Science and Technology Research Division to the President's Secretariat.

PAEC is now the largest S & T organization of the country, both in terms of scientific/technical manpower and the scope of its activities. Starting with a nuclear power reactor at Karachi (KANUPP) and an experimental research reactor at Nilore, Islamabad (PARR-I), the emphasis in the early years remained focused on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Consequently research centres in agriculture, medicine, biotechnology and other scientific disciplines were set up all over the country. As the emphasis shifted towards concerns for national security, important projects were also initiated in this area.

PAEC envisions setting up power plants with a capacity of 8800 MW by the year 2030. In this context CHASHNUPP project was initiated in the early 90's with the aim of establishing a complex of 4 units each having a 325 MW reactor. Expansion plans for KANNUP have also been launched. By 2008, studies were being conducted to identify new sites for further nuclear plants.

Composition

The Commission consists of the following members appointed by the Federal Government namely:-

Full-Time members

* a) Chairman
* b) A Finance member, being representative of the Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan.
* c) Technical members of whom one may be a member for Administration.

Part-Time members

* a) A scientist in the service of the Federal Government of any organization setup by the Federal Government.
* b) Two scientists.
* c) Chief Scientific Adviser to the President, ex-officio.

The Commission meets not less than four times every year, and it has the mandate to take decisions on all matters, including research work, promotion of peaceful uses of atomic energy in the fields of agriculture, medicine and industry and for the execution of development projects involving nuclear power stations and the generation of electric power.

Following is the list of PAEC chairmen:

* Dr. Nazir Ahmad. 1956-1960;
* Dr. I.H.Usmani. 1960-1972;
* Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan 1972-1991;
* Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad 1991-2001;
* Mr. Parvez Butt 2001-2006;
* Mr. Anwar Ali 2006-present

Current Full-Time members

* Mr. Anwar Ali -- Chairman PAEC
* Mr. Mansoor Ali Sheikh -- Member (Finance)
* Khalid Mushtaq --Member (Admininstration)
* Mr. Ghulam Nabi -- Member (Technical)
* Mr. Zia-ul-Hasan Siddique -- Member (NPG)
* Dr. Ansar Parvez -- Member (NPP)
* Dr. Shoaib Ahmed -- Member (Physical Sciences)
* Mr. Muhammad Naeem -- Member (Fuel Cycle)

Functions

*Programmes to develop nuclear power and fuel-cycle facilities.

*Promotion of use of radiation and radio-isotopes in agriculture, medicine and industry.

*Research, development and training of manpower to support the programmes of nuclear power and radio-isotope applications.

Nuclear Power

The task of nuclear power is divided between the Nuclear Power Generation and Nuclear Power Projects Divisions. The former overlooks the operational units while the latter is concerned with design and construction of planned units.

Projects

CHASHNUPP

* 4 x 325 MW Units
* CHASCENT Full Scope Training Simulator

Operational Units

* CHASHNUPP 1
Director General - Mr. Safdar Abassi
Deputy Director General - Mr. Syed Yusuf Raza

* CHASCENT
Director - Mr. Syed Javed Munawar

Planned Units

* CHASNUPP 2,3,4

KANUPP

* 1 x 125 MW
* 2 x 325 MW
* KINPOE Training Centre

Operational Units
* KANUPP 1
* KINPOE

Planned Units

* KANUPP 2,3,4,5

External links

* [http://paki.in/wtf/2008/09/11/pakistans-contribution-to-the-large-hadron-collider-lhc/ Pakistan’s contribution to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)]
* [http://www.paec.gov.pk/ Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Official Site]