On January 20, 1972, late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto called on a number of leading scientists at Multan and expressed his desire to go for a Nuclear Bomb. How much time would you take for it asked the Premier. A few comments came up which did not satisfy the Premier. “I shall need three years and give you the bomb said one of the scientists. This challenge changed the mood and the Premier got excited and said abruptly. “Is it possible”? Yes of course, was the sharp answer with confidence from the one who had accepted to take up the challenge. “We will eat grass but we must have a bomb” said the premier. We have wasted a lot of time. We could go for it in 1965. Still much is not lost, we should put our heads down and work ceaselessly for it” said the Premier.

Next day, Bhutto entrusted this Himalayan task to Dr. Munir Ahmed Khan appointing him Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. This was in 1972. Dr. Munir continued as Chairman till 1990 when he retired having built the Commission a strong organization that ultimately showed its worth in May 1998.

Dr. Munir Ahmed Khan was born in 1926 at Qasur in a modest educated family. After initial education at his native place he moved to Lahore where he matriculated in 1942 in Central Model High School. In 1944, he did his FSc and BSc in 1946 from Government College, Lahore.

He became Electrical Engineer in 1949 qualifying from the Engineering College, Lahore. For some time, he taught at the Engineering College and proceeded to America on a Fulbright Scholarship and joined North Carolina University from where he did MSc in 1951. He specialized in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Science and Technology, Chicago.

Having visited Austria in 1957 and working for some time, at International Atomic Agency, Vienna, he returned home in 1971 and joined AAEC as a scientist and elevated himself as its Chairman the following year.

During his stay as the Chairman for about eighteen years, though according to his challenge he could not produce the bomb, but he can be credited for having laid the first brick to this end by strengthening the Atomic Energy Commission which ultimately achieved its target. “He helped Pakistan acquire industry for complete nuclear fuel cycle involving uranium exploration, mining, making of uranium metal and culminating in fuel bundles for nuclear power reactors.”

It also goes to his credit that he raised a capable team of scientists like Dr. Ashfaq, Bashirudin Mahmood, Dr. N.A. Butt and others. He contributed in the development of Science and Technology by way of associating himself in the establishment of various research and teaching organizations including PINSTECH and Centre for Nuclear Studies. Imitation of Nuclear Re-actor at Jauharabad and foundation of National Development Complex are additional feathers in his cap. The cold test of Atomic Programme in March 1983 was made under his supervision. Although he retired from the PAEC in 1991, yet he remained associated with the Nuclear issues throughout: “He spent nearly forty years in the atomic energy, half in training in the US nuclear establishments and in working in the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and other half in applying that expertise and knowledge in the development of Pakistan Nuclear programme.”

He has published many research articles in different international journals. He was given awards of distinction by the Government of Pakistan. This scientist who first of all spoke to produce Atomic bomb expired on April 21st, 1999.

“Dr. Munir’s achievements must be seen in the background of anti nuclear international environment of past two decades when the United States, Canada and European country passed domestic legislation to not only place restrictions of transfer of technology but even to negotiate settled contracts.”

Articles

• The Nuclear Father