What happened
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at the Vienna International Centre on 17 February 2026 and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the agency’s role in promoting the responsible use of nuclear technology, according to a handout from the Prime Minister’s Office reported by Dawn.
The prime minister cited cancer diagnosis and treatment, agriculture, nuclear power generation and industrial applications as areas of cooperation. He praised the partnership between Pakistan and the IAEA, saying the country was not only a beneficiary of the agency’s technical cooperation programme but also contributed to its work through experts and by conducting international training for member states.
Later the same day, an agreement was signed designating Lahore’s Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL) as an IAEA collaborating centre. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Grossi signed the agreement, and Grossi said he was proud to designate INMOL, adding that the move would strengthen cooperation to expand cancer care, radiopharmaceutical production and nuclear medicine services.
More from the visit
The prime minister also addressed an event titled “Sustainable Development: Pathway for Global Peace and Prosperity”, calling for development to be inclusive and equitable. He said Pakistan contributed less than one per cent of global emissions but remained among the countries most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on human development, education, healthcare, food security and social protection.
The visit also included ceremonies for the signing of the UNIDO Programme for Country Partnership Pakistan 2025–2030, the UNODC Country Programme for Pakistan, and the INMOL–IAEA cooperation agreement. Grossi said he had visited nuclear facilities in Pakistan, including the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant unit, and looked forward to Pakistan’s active participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit that France is organising in March 2026. He said Pakistan was well placed to help other member states with the peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
Why it matters
The INMOL designation gives Pakistan a formal place in the IAEA’s network of collaborating centres, which the agency uses to share expertise and training on nuclear applications. For Pakistan, which relies on nuclear technology for power generation as well as cancer diagnosis and treatment, the visit reinforced a relationship that combines technical cooperation with international nuclear safety and security commitments. It also placed Pakistan’s nuclear programme in a civilian, development-oriented setting at a time when its security policies remain under international scrutiny.
Sources & reporting notes
This report is based on the Prime Minister's Office handout and published reporting from Vienna. Sources were reviewed on 17 February 2026.
- Dawn — "PM reaffirms Pakistan's support for IAEA's role in promoting responsible use of nuclear technology"17 February 2026 · Carries the PMO handout on the Grossi meeting, the cooperation areas, the INMOL collaborating-centre agreement signed by Ishaq Dar and the sustainable development address.
- Daily Times — "PM reaffirms Pakistan's support for IAEA cooperation"17 February 2026 · Confirms the Vienna visit, the INMOL designation and Grossi's remarks on Pakistan's expertise and the March 2026 Nuclear Energy Summit in France.