What happened
The board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency unanimously approved a Safeguards Agreement between the agency and Pakistan for the application of safeguards at the fifth unit of the Chashma nuclear power plant, the Foreign Office said. Dawn reported the approval, announced on Wednesday and made public on Thursday 5 March, quoting a statement that called it a milestone reflecting international confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
What the project involves
Chashma Unit-5 will have a gross capacity of 1,200 megawatts of electricity and is expected to become operational by 2030, according to the announcement. Pakistan currently operates six nuclear power reactors at two sites with a combined installed capacity of 3,530 MW, achieving an average capacity factor above 90 per cent. Over the past year, nuclear power accounted for 18.3 per cent of the national electricity mix and 34 per cent of total low-carbon generation. Four CNP-300 reactors are in operation at Chashma.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a post on X that the development marked “a key milestone for Pakistan’s energy future,” underscoring global trust in the country’s nuclear safety, security, non-proliferation and peaceful programme. The approval followed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi during a visit to Vienna.
Why it matters
The safeguards agreement places the new reactor under IAEA verification and is presented by Islamabad as recognition of its record of more than 100 reactor-years of safeguarded operation. Safeguards for Pakistan are applied through item-specific agreements, as Pakistan is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty — a status it shares with India and Israel. The approval adds to Pakistan’s plans to expand nuclear generation as it seeks low-carbon and affordable electricity.
What is still uncertain
The statement did not set a construction timeline beyond the 2030 operational target or disclose the cost of Unit-5. The safeguards apply to the fifth unit specifically, and the announcement did not address the status of any future units.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a synthesis of published material, not eyewitness reporting. Sources were reviewed on 2026-03-05.
- Dawn — IAEA okays Pakistan's application of safeguards at Chashma nuclear power plantPublished 5 March 2026 · The board approval, Unit-5 capacity and 2030 target, and Pakistan's nuclear generation figures.
- Geo News — IAEA endorses Chashma Unit-5 safeguards, underscores Pakistan's nuclear safety recordPublished 5 March 2026 · Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's statement and the follow-up to the prime minister's Vienna visit.
