Underscoring the need to enhance energy resources of the country at a fast pace to meet growing requirements, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said the government plans to produce 8,800MW nuclear energy in the next 23 years.
The 8,800 megawatts of energy produced through nuclear will contribute 8 percent of the total electricity production by the year 2030, he said, adding that the government is focussing on generating more nuclear energy.
The prime minister was chairing the 33rd council meeting of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) at the Prime Minister Secretariat here.
He said the energy needs of the country are growing by 8-10 percent annually and emphasised that energy security is critical to maintaining growth and competitiveness in the rapidly globalised world.
He said the government was looking for power generation from all possible sources. The strategic direction of development of energy sector includes enhancing exploitation of hydropower, energy generation through use of gas and furnace oil, alternative energy resources (solar, wind and biomas) and increased emphasis on nuclear energy resources.
The prime minister said Pakistan's nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
"We have established an effective command and control authority to ensure safety and security of our strategic assets," he said.
The country's nuclear power plants, he added, were under IAEA safeguards internationally and its track record of compliance has been excellent.
He said Pakistan is working with China to explore new avenues of co-operation for peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The prime minister, in principle, approved establishment of separate company PAEC Biosciences (Pvt) limited to market agricultural-related services.
He asked the PAEC to focus more on the development of human capital, particularly in science and technology and engineering and increase enrolment of students at their institutions to help Pakistan in building a knowledge-based economy.
"In today's world knowledge marks the boundary between the developed and developing nations. The future of the world lies with the countries having knowledge-based economies," he added.
Referring to the skills gap in the country, he said, PAEC has the capability to help Pakistan in building a knowledge-based economy as well as bridge the skills gap.
Shaukat appreciated the PAEC management and staff for consistently taking the nuclear energy programme forward.
Appreciating the PAEC for its valuable services in the health and agriculture sector, he said that PAEC cancer hospitals are providing valuable services to the patients.
He said the PAEC is also doing a commendable job in agricultural sector, particularly in the fields of genetic engineering and biotechnology.
By introducing new varieties of crops, the commission has contributed a lot to the agricultural development, he said, but added, there was a potential to do more in this area.
The prime minister was informed that during 2005 farmers earned an additional income of Rs 10 billion due to new varieties of crops evolved by the PAEC in wheat, cotton, rice, rapeseed, mungbean, chick pea and lentils.
The PAEC has developed GM insect resistant cottonseed, which can result in estimated benefit of Rs 25 billion per annum if grown on 4.3 million acres.
The PAEC chairman said that in the health sector, the commission is running 13 cancer hospitals where about 350,000 patients were treated in 2005.
Director General, SPC; Principal Secretary to PM; Secretary, Ministry of Health; Secretary, Water & Power; Secretary, Food & Agriculture; Secretary, Defence Production Division; Secretary, IT & Telecom; Secretary, Industries & Production; Secretary, S&T and senior officers of the PAEC and federal government attended the meeting.