Pakistan becomes first associate member of CERN in Asia

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has become the first Associate Member of European Organisation for Nuclear Research – CERN among the Asian countries.

CERN Director General Dr Rolf Heuer on behalf of CERN and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Chairman Dr Ansar Parvez here on Friday signed the agreement for Associate Membership. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the prime minister, heads of scientific organisations, foreign diplomats and many other dignitaries. While talking to journalists in a press conference, the PAEC chairman said that the associate membership of Pakistan reflects the decades committed efforts of Pakistani scientists and engineers contributing to the scientific research and technological work at CERN.

He said that the relationship with the world leading research organisation would help motivate the budding scientists to build stronger scientific base of Pakistan. He said that when CERN opens associate membership for Non-European countries, Pakistan saw prospects of scientific engagements and applied for it. He said that Pakistan is playing a leading role in Pak-CERN collaboration for the last 20 years. He said that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and it is a great honor and landmark achievement in the history of Pakistan to become the office bearer of the organisation.

Dr Rolf said that Pakistan associate membership will allow Pakistani scientists, engineers and technicians to join CERN staff besides participating in CERN's career development programmes. He said that the membership will also permit Pakistan's industry to bid for CERN contracts which would open up opportunities for industrial collaboration based on advanced technologies. He said that CERN, like a catalyst, will mobilise the rich scientific and technological potential of Pakistani youth.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/19-Dec-2014/pakistan-becomes-first-associate-member-of-cern-in-asia