Islamabad, Moscow enter negotiations on broadening scope of nuclear energy cooperation

Islamabad and Moscow have entered negotiations on expanding their co-operation in the field of nuclear energy.

Following a meeting between the two countries' senior officials overlooking matters of nuclear energy, the Russian TASS agency reports that Islamabad is currently awaiting a proposal from Moscow.

Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Industry matters met the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk on July 9 in Moscow. He was accompanied by another Pakistani Special Assistant to the PM, Syed Tariq Fatemi who is overseeing matters relating to international cooperation.

"As you know, we are confident in the importance of advancing the peaceful use of nuclear energy. And right now, we are facing a serious issue with energy prices. Nuclear energy is among the cheapest. So of course, we would like to explore the scope of these opportunities and their potential. I believe this issue is already under discussion," Khan told reporters in response to a question about the prospects for cooperation between Pakistan and Russia in the nuclear energy sector.

"We would like to reduce our energy costs. This is a serious obstacle to doing business in Pakistan. Undoubtedly, we are eagerly awaiting this," the official added.

Both nations run extensive networks of nuclear power plants, and Russia has signed multiple agreements to assist other countries by sharing their experience and building such facilities abroad, including in Türkiye, Iran, and Kazakhstan.

By Nazrin Sadigova