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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is seeking to broaden its traditionally security-focused nuclear sector into an international research hub, offering 20 fully funded scholarships for students from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) member countries, according to a state media report on Friday.

The initiative, announced by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Chairman Dr. Raja Raza Anwar, is expected to attract foreign expertise and strengthening peaceful applications of nuclear technology in a field long viewed through the lens of national defense.

The move follows a new five-year cooperation plan with the IAEA signed this week to expand civilian uses of nuclear science in agriculture, healthcare, clean energy and environmental protection.

“Pakistan is offering 20 fully funded scholarships at Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) for students from IAEA member states, along with an additional five scholarships dedicated exclusively to the IAEA’s Marie

Curie Fellowship Program for women for the year 2025-26,” the Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Anwar as saying during a sidelines event of the 69th IAEA General Conference in Austria.

Established in 1967, PIEAS is recognized as one of Pakistan’s leading universities in engineering, physical sciences and nuclear technology.

Anwar said Pakistan has developed strong expertise in nuclear science and technology through a network of academic and training institutions, citing its Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology and the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering as examples of how the country has applied nuclear tools to boost food security and agriculture.

Pakistan has been an IAEA member since 1957 to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

The PAEC and the IAEA regularly collaborate on nuclear power generation, agriculture, health, water resource management and radiation safety.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has decided to outsource the running of passenger trains through an open auction to cut losses and modernize services, state media reported on Friday.

The rail network has long been running at a loss, with passenger fares and freight tariffs often failing to cover operating costs. Pakistan is already striving to privatize loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs), including the national air carrier, as part of its understanding with the International Monetary Fund under a $7 billion loan program secured last year.

The railways, with its old tracks and bridges, has not tried to fully privatize but has outsourced parts of its operations.

“A meeting presided over by Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi in Lahore has decided to outsource passenger trains through open auction,” Radio Pakistan said, adding that the meeting also agreed to revise the annual revenue benchmark of trains.

The railways will also induct 295 high-capacity freight wagons into the system by March next year.

The meeting “was also informed that freight booking will be shifted entirely to an online system from next week,” the report added.

Pakistan Railways has sought Chinese assistance under the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework for major infrastructure upgrades, including the $7 billion Main Line-1 project, new rolling stock and dualization of tracks.

Additionally, railway officials have been considering Asian Development Bank financing for the Karachi-Rohri upgrade.