The National Institute of Safety and Security (NISAS) of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has become an IAEA collaborating centre for Nuclear Security Education, Training and Technical Support. The agreement signed on the sidelines of the IAEA’s 66th General Conference builds on a long-term partnership between the IAEA and Pakistan, and brings the number of collaborating centres in the field of nuclear security throughout the world to ten.
“The IAEA nuclear security programme includes a broad range of capacity building activities, which are one of the most important pillars of our assistance to Member States. Nuclear security education and training in the region of Asia and the Pacific will be further strengthened and supported by the designation of NISAS as an IAEA collaborating centre,” said Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, at the signing ceremony held in Vienna.
“NISAS is systematically supporting the IAEA’s ongoing efforts to enhance nuclear security in the region, and globally” she added.
The signed agreement is valid until 2026 and includes activities related to nuclear security education, training and technical support. Under the scope of the agreed work plan, NISAS will continue to support nuclear security through organizing and hosting IAEA training courses and workshops by utilizing their state-of-the-art training centre and physical protection laboratories, by hosting researchers and nuclear security fellowships, by supporting the development of guidance documents, and by sharing experience with IAEA Member States through participation in expert missions.
“The designation of NISAS as an IAEA Collaborating Centre is an important milestone in the long-standing cooperation with the IAEA, and will further foster it. It confirms and acknowledges the expertise we have developed in the area of nuclear security,” said Faizan Mansoor, Chairman of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA). “NISAS’s staff and infrastructure will continue contributing to the IAEA efforts in building the competencies and technical skills required to support nuclear security at national and regional level.”
