Islamic Republic of Pakistan to become Associate Member State of CERN

Geneva 19 December 2014. CERN Director General, Rolf Heuer, and the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Ansar Parvez, signed today in Islamabad, in presence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a document admitting the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to CERN Associate Membership, subject to ratification by the Government of Pakistan. "Pakistan has been a strong participant in CERN's endeavours in science and technology since the 1990s," said Rolf Heuer. "Bringing nations together in a peaceful quest for knowledge and education is one of the most important missions of CERN. Welcoming Pakistan as a new Associate Member State is therefore for our Organization a very significant event and I'm looking forward to enhanced cooperation with Pakistan in the near future." "It is indeed a historic day for science in Pakistan. Today's signing of the agreement is a reward for the collaboration of our scientists, engineers and technicians with CERN over the past two decades," said Ansar Parvez . "This Membership will bring in its wake multiple opportunities for our young students and for industry to learn and benefit from CERN.