Unleashing the Atom: Civilian Nuclear Power in the 21st Century

A high-level seminar titled “Unleashing the Atom: Civilian Nuclear Power in the 21st Century” was organised by the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), Lahore in June 2025. The event brought together leading experts in nuclear energy to assess its evolving role in Pakistan’s energy security and climate strategy.

 

In her opening remarks, Ms Nidaa Shahid, Associate Director, CASS Lahore, framed the discussion within the broader context of a rapidly evolving global energy landscape. She emphasised that nuclear energy is undergoing a global resurgence as a strategic imperative for sovereignty, resilience, and climate action. Highlighting Pakistan’s established civil nuclear infrastructure, she praised the achievements of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and its strategic partnership with China. Ms Shahid urged a forward-looking approach focused on building upon existing successes to position nuclear energy as a central pillar of Pakistan’s future energy and climate strategies.

 

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Ansar Parvez traced Pakistan’s civil nuclear journey, beginning with the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant and extending to the development of Chashma nuclear units with Chinese collaboration. He emphasised how sanctions compelled Pakistan to build indigenous technical capacity and institutional resilience, making its civil nuclear programme largely self-reliant.

 

Dr Parvez also provided a historical overview of global nuclear trends, beginning with President Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace speech in 1953, and the rise of nuclear power in the 1970s. However, major accidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima triggered a wave of public fear, halting nuclear expansion in many countries.

 

He presented data showing that while global nuclear capacity increased marginally, its share in global electricity fell from 17.5 percent to under 9 percent. Dr Parvez also examined the debate around Small Modular Reactors (SMRS), noting their potential for deployment in remote areas but cautioning that their economic efficiency hinges on large-scale standardised production, which remains elusive.

 

Dr Javaid Khurshid focused on the urgent need for effective science communication around climate change and nuclear energy. He argued that public misinformation, sensationalist media coverage, and poor accessibility of scientific discourse have fuelled irrational fears about nuclear power. Misreporting, such as linking routine outages to pollution, has undermined confidence in nuclear safety and efficacy.

 

Dr Khurshid emphasised the escalating effects of climate change in Pakistan, including rising temperatures, declining water availability, and growing health impacts. He underscored that nuclear power, now recognised as a clean energy source in the COP28 outcome document, must be repositioned as a viable, low-carbon alternative within Pakistan’s national climate framework. He highlighted that nuclear energy has one of the lowest mortality rates per terawatt- hour-far lower than coal, oil, or even natural gas.

 

Mr Amer Manzoor presented a strategic overview of Pakistan’s nuclear energy landscape and its peaceful applications. He noted that despite global headwinds, nuclear power is regaining ground, with countries like China and some in the EU reversing earlier anti- nuclear stances. He pointed to Pakistan’s successes which have contributed up to 27 percent of national electricity output during peak periods.

 

Beyond energy, Mr Manzoor highlighted PAEC’s broader societal contributions, most notably 20 cancer treatment hospitals serving over a million patients annually, and successful deployment of nuclear desalination and agricultural innovations. He reiterated Pakistan’s full compliance with international safeguards and reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful nuclear development.

 

In his concluding remarks, Air Marshal Asim Suleiman (Retd), President CASS Lahore said that Pakistan’s civil nuclear programme, already a key part of its energy mix, must now evolve to meet growing demands for energy security and climate resilience. By embracing new technologies, investing in local expertise, and prioritising innovation and safety, nuclear energy can become not just a power source but a strategic driver of sustainable national development.

 

The interactive discussion covered a range of topics, including the challenges of regional energy stability, potential for thorium-based reactors, and the impact of climate change on nuclear safety. Speakers emphasised that Pakistan’s reactor sites are selected based on rigorous long-term safety and seismic assessments, and that transparent public communication is key to building confidence. The seminar concluded with a strong message: as Pakistan grapples with rising energy demands and intensifying climate risks, nuclear power offers a strategic, clean, and reliable option. Realising its full potential will require policy consistency, public awareness, and international collaboration, ensuring that nuclear energy becomes a pillar of Pakistan’s sustainable future.