Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) (Urdu: ماموریہ جوہری توانائی پاکستان) is a federally funded independent governmental agency, concerned with research and development of nuclear power, promotion of nuclear science, energy conservation and the peaceful usage of nuclear technology.
ماموریہ جوہری توانائی پاکستان | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1956 |
Superseding agency | |
Jurisdiction | Government of Pakistan |
Headquarters | Islamabad, Pakistan |
Employees | 120,000–130,000 |
Annual budget | Classified |
Agency executive |
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Website | http://www.paec.gov.pk/ |
Since its establishment in 1956, the PAEC has overseen the extensive development of nuclear infrastructure to support the economical uplift of Pakistan by founding institutions that focus on development on food irradiation and on nuclear medicine radiation therapy for cancer treatment. The PAEC organizes conferences and directs research at the country's leading universities. Since the 1960s, the PAEC is also a scientific research partner and sponsor of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), where Pakistani scientists have contributed to developing particle accelerators and research on high-energy physics. PAEC scientists regularly pay visits to CERN while taking part in projects led by CERN.
Until 2001, the PAEC was the civilian federal oversight agency that manifested the control of atomic radiation, development of nuclear weapons, and their testing. These functions were eventually taken over by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA), and the National Command Authority under the Prime Minister of Pakistan.