LAHORE: The foundation stone of Pakistan’s first Atomic Reactor and Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology will be laid by President Mohammad Ayub Khan early next month at Rawalpindi.

Disclosing this, the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Dr I.H. Usmani, told newsmen that the atomic reactor will be the principal producer of radio-isotopes in the country.

Another major achievement in Pakistan’s nuclear development programme will be recorded when the country’s first Atomic Energy Research and Training Centre starts functioning next month. The president is scheduled to inaugurate the centre in Lahore on Oct 26.

Equipped with the latest nucleonic and radiation equipment, the centre has cost Rs30 lakhs, including a contribution of Rs500,000 by the ICA. The centre has entirely been constructed by Pakistani scientists and engineers within a year. The entire staff at the centre would be Pakistani except an adviser from the International Atomic Energy Commission.

High-quality coal found

KARACHI: The coal discovered in Bogra-Rajshahi area of East Pakistan has one of the thickest seams in this part of the world. At places, it is as thick as 170 feet. Work on this project, which is being explored by the Geological Survey of Pakistan in collaboration with the United Nation Special Projects Fund, will be in full swing next month. — Agencies