Pakistani students playing vital role in research at CERN, says Nawaz

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said Pakistani students are playing an important role in research going on at European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN), one of the foremost international centres of scientific research. He said this while visiting CERN on Saturday, where he was warmly received by Director General CERN Fabiola Gianotti.
The Director General acknowledged Nobel Prize winner Pakistani scientist Dr Abdul Salam's role in establishment of the organisation. Nawaz Sharif said Dr Abdul Salam was a great Pakistani and the nation is proud of his achievements. While addressing scientists, including Pakistani scientists and technicians, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan considered it a matter of immense pride to have become an Associate Member of CERN last year especially as it was the first non-European country to have achieved this milestone.
He paid a rich tribute to outstanding contribution of Pakistani scientists, "Our Associate Membership of CERN is a recognition of the achievements of our scientists, engineers and technicians." He underscored that Pakistan and CERN had been collaborating since 1994, and had carried out a number of successful projects involving sophisticated technologies and precision engineering. Pakistan was also involved in accelerator developments, making it an important partner for CERN.
The Associate Membership of Pakistan has open a new era of co-operation that will strengthen the long-term partnership between CERN and the Pakistani scientific community. It will allow Pakistani scientists to become members of the CERN staff, participate in CERN's training and career-development programmes and CERN Council as well as allow Pakistani industry to bid for CERN contracts, thus opening up opportunities for industrial collaboration in areas of advanced technology. Pakistan's partnership with CERN is based on solid foundations.
Pakistan has a long history of research in elementary particle physics and has produced some renowned scientists in this field, including the Nobel laureate Dr Abdus Salam. Pakistan has also supplied equipment since 2003 to support CERN programs. Pakistan' Heavy Mechanical Complex-3 (HMC-3) won a CERN award for best industrial partner in 2006. Prime Minister's visit to CERN is a demonstration of the Government's strong commitment to the promotion of science and technology in Pakistan.