Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) is actively engaged in a multi-disciplinary programme, which aims at self-reliance in national development and defence.
This was stated by PAEC Chairman Pervez Butt, while inaugurating the second PAEC International Oncology and Nuclear Medicine conference here on Friday.
He said that PAEC's basic research programme, which is undertaken in collaboration with the international scientific organisations, is a vital source of information leading to high-tech development in various fields.
Butt informed that the commission is running 13 cancer treatment centres throughout the country and assured five another centres will be added soon to fight against the dreaded disease.
Based upon research capabilities of PINSTECH, a research institute of PAEC, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has declared it as its regional resource centre, he added.
The chairman said that PAEC has embarked upon an ambitious plan for enhancing the share of nuclear electricity in the national energy mix as the nuclear power, apart from being competitive, is an agent of sustainable development, promoter of high technology and provides security of supply.
"We are engaged in mining for the development of various minerals and for fuel needs of our nuclear power plants," Chairman PAEC observed.
He stressed that we should emulate the example of South Africa which has manufactured inexpensive medicines for the cure of AIDS.
We should also manufacture anti-cancer medicines locally which are very expensive and are beyond the reach of a common man and assured that PAEC is playing its part in the manufacturing of such medicines.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed also delivered a thought-provoking and informative lecture on Cancer on the occasion.
Later, the Punjab Health Minister and the Chairman PAEC, awarded certificates jointly to the passing out of diploma in radiation conducted by INMOL.