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Anwar Ali (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Anwar Ali, born: 1945 in Lahore
, British Punjab State, British Indian Empire, (Ph.D
, HI
, PP
), is a Pakistani nuclear physicist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
(PAEC) from 2006 till 2009. He is currently working as a Professor
of Nuclear Engineering
at the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS).
Anwar Ali is widely known for his role in the Nuclear detterent programme where he was the pioneering member of Nuclear Physics Division (NPD). Throughout his career, Ali is known to worked with both well-known Pakistani nuclear scientists dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan
and Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan
in nuclear weapons programme throughout 1970s and 1980s.
and attended Government College University
where he took his B.Sc.
in Physics
in 1966, and a M.Sc.
in Nuclear physics
from Government College University
in 1968. He then attended University of Manchester
where he received M.S.
in Nuclear engineering
in 1970. The same, he won PAEC scholarship
and went back to United Kingdom where he attended Nuclear Technology Education Consortium (NTESC).
In 1972, he got admitted with a scholarship university to pursue his PhD.
in nuclear physics. On 18 May 1974, when India conduct a nuclear test of its first device, codename Pokhran-I, Ali he left his alma mater
and his Ph.D studies, which he was subjected to received in 2 weeks. He immediately returned to Pakistan where he joined Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission led by Munir Ahmad Khan
. In 2009, after retiring as Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Ali was awarded his an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in nuclear physics by the dr. Stephen Murray at the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences in 2009 on the basis of his 50 research papers.
(PAEC) in 1967 as he carried out his research at Pakistan Atomic Energy Center-Lahore. In 1968, he joined PAEC, and won the scholarship to traveled to United Kingdom
. In 1974, he joined PAEC, and was assigned to Nuclear Engineering Division (NED) led by nuclear engineer Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood
. Ali was among one of the pioneers of PAEC's Uranium Enrichment Programme, where in 1974, the secret project, codename Project-706
, was launched under Sultan Mehmood, and a Uranium enrichment facility was sat up at the Chaklala Air Force Base
. In 1976, Munir Ahmad Khan had selected the team of scientists and engineers who would led the uranium programme. The team was headed by Sultan Mehmood, and theoretical physicist dr. Ghulam Dastigar Allam. Dr. Ghulam Dastigar Allam headed the centrifuge design team and electromagnetic isotope separation programme. Due to its sensitivity, the programme was given a codename — Directorate of Industrial Liaison (DIL). The DIL had consisted Anwar Ali, metallurgist dr. Javed Arshad Mirza, nuclear chemists dr. Ashraf Chaudhry , Dr. Iqbal Khokhar. Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan
joined the project in spring 1976, however, due to Mehmood's ingenious pursuit, dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan began highly dissatisfied. During this time, the DIL succeeded to rotated the first centrifuge to 30,000 Rpm
in April 1976. On 4 June 1978, Dr. G.D. Alam and Anwar Ali succeeded in separated the 235U
and 238U
isotopes.
Following his transferred to PAEC, he was put in-charge of Directorate of Industrial Liaison (DIL). In 1985, Ali was made senior member of PAEC's Directorate of Technical Development (DTD). At DTD, he also developed the electronic-nuclear protection devices into the missiles.
Ali is credited with the development of computer codes and ultra-precision equipment for the missile detterence program, along with playing a key role in the formative years of National Defense Complex (NDC) in developing guidance and control systems for Pakistan's solid fuel Shaheen-I
.
In 1995, Ali was sent to National Defence Complex
(NDC) where he was a part of teams of aerospace engineers that developed the Shaheen-I. In May 1998, Ali re-joined the PAEC and was made part of DTD, under Hafeez Qureshi. Ali was part of a team of academic scientists that eye-witnessed and supervised the country's first nuclear tests, codename Chagai-I
at Ras Koh area of the Chagai Hills
, and second test, codename Chagai-II, at Kharan Desert
. For this, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz
from then-Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif
.
On 28 March 2006, the Government of Pakistan
announced the appointment of dr. Anwar Ali as the chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. As PAEC Chairman, he announced that the PAEC has also promoted the utilization of nuclear technologies
in other areas, such as agricultural production and for medical diagnosis and therapy. In April 2009, he completed his term and retired from PAEC. After his retirement from the commission, he joined Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences's engineering faculty. Currently, he is serving as a professor
of Nuclear engineering at there.
of CERN, reached an agreement between CERN and Pakistan. According to the agreement, Pakistan will provide its technical and scientific support in the field of novel accelerator, Collimator
, particle detector
and information technologies, as well as through the training and education of scientists and engineers. Pakistan also will upgrade the Compact Muon Solenoid
or CMS and Large Hadron Collider
or LHC. Pakistan will also set up the separate fund for the CMS and LHC particle detectors. Pakistan will also provide its scientists and engineers to help to developed and designed the particle and nuclear detectors at the CERN.
projects that were led by dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. However, Abdul Qadeer Khan's brought blue-prints were incomplete and mostly incorrect, as the errors were discovered by dr. Ghulam Dastigar Allam. The team was unable to developed the centrifuge machine according to Khan's stolen blueprints. Meantime, dr. Allam visited Quaid-i-Azam University
's Physics Hall where he met with Tasnim Shah
, a mathematician, and delegated him to joined the ERL. Shah gained fame when he independently developed the powerful version of the technology brought by Khan; Ali began to work dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. In 1980, the ERL succeeded to make HEU enriched fuel under Abdul Qadeer Khan. In 1981, Ali and other academic scientists developed serious differences with Abdul Qadeer Khan over his nuclear proliferation network. In 1981, Ali notified the Abdul Qadeer Khan's proliferation to the Government, which Khan denied. To avoid confrontation, President
and Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq gave transferred Ali and other PAEC's academic scientists back to PAEC.
According to the associate press of Pakistan, Ali has had career assignments which include working at the KRL, where he served as one of the directors and carried out work, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan, having “fundamental significance”—an euphemism for working on gas centrifuge technology for nuclear weapons at the facility.
During his stay at the KRL, Ali was incharge of research and development
division where he is credited to installed high powered and high-tech computer program and department to electronically monitor the facility from in and out 24/7.
"In July 1980, two members of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission came here in secret with a high-priority shopping list: vital parts of Pakistan’s fledgling effort to become a nuclear power. According to court records here, the two Pakistani officials/scientists who came to Canada – Anwar Ali and I.A. Bhatty – brought with them a list of parts needed for a key item embargoed by the U.S. and others, a high-frequency inverter. This exotic electrical device is used to spin a gas centrifuge at extremely high speeds to enrich uranium.
The parts were bought from manufacturers, including General Electric Co., Westinghouse Electric Corp., RCA Corp., and Motorola, Inc., by two small electrical equipment stores in Montreal, according to the court papers. Then they were repackaged and shipped on to the Pakistan".
However, none of the senior Pakistani scientists were arrested. With lack of evidences and proofs, the investigation was undergone. The judicial investigation was closed and all of three scientists were sat free, two were fined $3,000 each on a minor technical charge.
. He has given opportunity to work with both known nuclear scientists of Pakistan, dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and Munir Ahmad Khan. Despite of the nuclear proliferation allegation, Anwar Ali played an important role in nuclear safety program of Pakistan. He is an avid supporter of science and technology in Pakistan. As PAEC Chairman, he established high-power laser physics
, Fusion Laboratory, Synchrotron Light Machine and optics science institution throughout the country. As he completed his term as PAEC Chairman, He concluded:
"I must mention here that our achievements would not have been possible without the competence and commitment of the human resource of PAEC, and I take this opportunity to record my appreciations for them."
As PAEC Chairman, Ali played a crucial role in Pakistan's peaceful purpose civilian nuclear program. In an televised interview with The News International
, Ali said:" Initially, we have identified six sites in different parts of the country and are looking into suitability of these sites for setting up nuclear power plant
."
He said " the government had given agency a target to produce 8,800 MWs through nuclear power by the year 2030. [The PAEC] were in touch with some friendly countries for installation of new nuclear power
plants but it would be premature to say which country would be chosen for this purpose." In 6 April 2009, Ali retire from PAEC as a Chairman and chief nuclear scientist. After his retirement he has joined Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences as a professor of nuclear engineering
. He is also serving University's board of Governor as well as professor of nuclear engineering.
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, British Punjab State, British Indian Empire, (Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
, HI
Hilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
, PP
Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance , is one of the highest civil award given and conferred by the Pakistan Government to Pakistan's citizens in recognition of distinguished merit in the fields of Literature, Arts, Sports, Medicines, and Science for civilians in most particular cases.The announcement of civil...
), is a Pakistani nuclear physicist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
(PAEC) from 2006 till 2009. He is currently working as a Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
at the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS).
Anwar Ali is widely known for his role in the Nuclear detterent programme where he was the pioneering member of Nuclear Physics Division (NPD). Throughout his career, Ali is known to worked with both well-known Pakistani nuclear scientists dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan , also known in Pakistan as Mohsin-e-Pakistan , D.Eng, Sc.D, HI, NI , FPAS; more widely known as Dr. A. Q...
and Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
in nuclear weapons programme throughout 1970s and 1980s.
Biography
Born in 1945 in Lahore, Anwar Ali's academic career has been prestigious from high school to university. Anwar Ali was educated in LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and attended Government College University
Government College University
Government College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
where he took his B.Sc.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in 1966, and a M.Sc.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
from Government College University
Government College University
Government College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
in 1968. He then attended University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
where he received M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
in 1970. The same, he won PAEC scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
and went back to United Kingdom where he attended Nuclear Technology Education Consortium (NTESC).
In 1972, he got admitted with a scholarship university to pursue his PhD.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in nuclear physics. On 18 May 1974, when India conduct a nuclear test of its first device, codename Pokhran-I, Ali he left his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
and his Ph.D studies, which he was subjected to received in 2 weeks. He immediately returned to Pakistan where he joined Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission led by Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
. In 2009, after retiring as Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Ali was awarded his an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in nuclear physics by the dr. Stephen Murray at the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences in 2009 on the basis of his 50 research papers.
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Anwar Ali affiliated with Pakistan Atomic Energy CommissionPakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
(PAEC) in 1967 as he carried out his research at Pakistan Atomic Energy Center-Lahore. In 1968, he joined PAEC, and won the scholarship to traveled to United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 1974, he joined PAEC, and was assigned to Nuclear Engineering Division (NED) led by nuclear engineer Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood
Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood
Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, otherwise written as, Sultan Bashir-ud-Din Mehmood), and Manchester, United Kingdom. A controversial figure, Bashiruddin Mahmood is widely popular in Pakistan's scientific and religious circles for his scientific interpretation and its relation to Quran...
. Ali was among one of the pioneers of PAEC's Uranium Enrichment Programme, where in 1974, the secret project, codename Project-706
Project-706
Project-706, also known as Project-726 or as the Kahuta Project, was a science effort codename of a project conducted during the Cold War and Russo-Afghan War whose objective was to develop Pakistan' first atomic weapon. The mainstream goal of the project was the development of an atomic bomb using...
, was launched under Sultan Mehmood, and a Uranium enrichment facility was sat up at the Chaklala Air Force Base
PAF Base Chaklala
PAF Base Chaklala is an active Pakistan Air Force airbase located in Chaklala Rawalpindi, Punjab province, Pakistan. It also forms part of Islamabad International Airport.-History:The base was originally operated by the Royal Air Force as R.A.F...
. In 1976, Munir Ahmad Khan had selected the team of scientists and engineers who would led the uranium programme. The team was headed by Sultan Mehmood, and theoretical physicist dr. Ghulam Dastigar Allam. Dr. Ghulam Dastigar Allam headed the centrifuge design team and electromagnetic isotope separation programme. Due to its sensitivity, the programme was given a codename — Directorate of Industrial Liaison (DIL). The DIL had consisted Anwar Ali, metallurgist dr. Javed Arshad Mirza, nuclear chemists dr. Ashraf Chaudhry , Dr. Iqbal Khokhar. Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan , also known in Pakistan as Mohsin-e-Pakistan , D.Eng, Sc.D, HI, NI , FPAS; more widely known as Dr. A. Q...
joined the project in spring 1976, however, due to Mehmood's ingenious pursuit, dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan began highly dissatisfied. During this time, the DIL succeeded to rotated the first centrifuge to 30,000 Rpm
Revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
in April 1976. On 4 June 1978, Dr. G.D. Alam and Anwar Ali succeeded in separated the 235U
Uranium-235
- References :* .* DOE Fundamentals handbook: Nuclear Physics and Reactor theory , .* A piece of U-235 the size of a grain of rice can produce energy equal to that contained in three tons of coal or fourteen barrels of oil. -External links:* * * one of the earliest articles on U-235 for the...
and 238U
Uranium-238
Uranium-238 is the most common isotope of uranium found in nature. It is not fissile, but is a fertile material: it can capture a slow neutron and after two beta decays become fissile plutonium-239...
isotopes.
Following his transferred to PAEC, he was put in-charge of Directorate of Industrial Liaison (DIL). In 1985, Ali was made senior member of PAEC's Directorate of Technical Development (DTD). At DTD, he also developed the electronic-nuclear protection devices into the missiles.
Ali is credited with the development of computer codes and ultra-precision equipment for the missile detterence program, along with playing a key role in the formative years of National Defense Complex (NDC) in developing guidance and control systems for Pakistan's solid fuel Shaheen-I
Shaheen-I
The Shaheen missile series, named after a species of falcon found in the mountains of Pakistan, was developed by NESCOM's National Defence Complex of Pakistan...
.
In 1995, Ali was sent to National Defence Complex
National Defence Complex
The National Development Complex , is an aerospace and defense agency of the Ministry of Defence of Government of Pakistan, located in Fateh Jang, Punjab Province of Pakistan. The NDC was founded in 1990 by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Mr...
(NDC) where he was a part of teams of aerospace engineers that developed the Shaheen-I. In May 1998, Ali re-joined the PAEC and was made part of DTD, under Hafeez Qureshi. Ali was part of a team of academic scientists that eye-witnessed and supervised the country's first nuclear tests, codename Chagai-I
Chagai-I
The Chagai-I was a codename referring to the five underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan at 15:15hrs in 28th May of 1998. It was named Chagai-I, as the tests were conducted in the Chagai District...
at Ras Koh area of the Chagai Hills
Chagai Hills
The Chagai Hills is a range of granite hills in the Chagai District in Pakistan's Balochistan province.-Location:The Chagai Hills lie in a desert area in the northernmost part of Chagai District north of Pakistan's Ras Koh Hills and south of Afghanistan's Helmand and Nimruz provinces.- Topography...
, and second test, codename Chagai-II, at Kharan Desert
Kharan Desert
The Kharan Desert is a sand desert situated in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.Kharan desert is Pakistan's second nuclear test site, and the second nuclear test — Codename Chagai-II — was conducted and supervised by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in May 30, 1998.The desert is...
. For this, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Sitara-i-Imtiaz
The Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"...
from then-Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
.
On 28 March 2006, the Government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
announced the appointment of dr. Anwar Ali as the chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. As PAEC Chairman, he announced that the PAEC has also promoted the utilization of nuclear technologies
Nuclear technology
Nuclear technology is technology that involves the reactions of atomic nuclei. Among the notable nuclear technologies are nuclear power, nuclear medicine, and nuclear weapons...
in other areas, such as agricultural production and for medical diagnosis and therapy. In April 2009, he completed his term and retired from PAEC. After his retirement from the commission, he joined Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences's engineering faculty. Currently, he is serving as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Nuclear engineering at there.
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
On 27 January 2006, Anwar Ali as PAEC chairman, received an inivitation letter from CERN. During his stay at CERN, Anwar Ali of PAEC and Mr. Robert AymarRobert Aymar
Robert Aymar was the Director General of CERN , serving a five year term in that role.-Professional History:He became involved in the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique , the French atomic energy commission, in 1959. Aymar directed the Tore Supra from conception in 1977 through to the start of...
of CERN, reached an agreement between CERN and Pakistan. According to the agreement, Pakistan will provide its technical and scientific support in the field of novel accelerator, Collimator
Collimator
A collimator is a device that narrows a beam of particles or waves. To "narrow" can mean either to cause the directions of motion to become more aligned in a specific direction or to cause the spatial cross section of the beam to become smaller.- Optical collimators :In optics, a collimator may...
, particle detector
Particle detector
In experimental and applied particle physics, nuclear physics, and nuclear engineering, a particle detector, also known as a radiation detector, is a device used to detect, track, and/or identify high-energy particles, such as those produced by nuclear decay, cosmic radiation, or reactions in a...
and information technologies, as well as through the training and education of scientists and engineers. Pakistan also will upgrade the Compact Muon Solenoid
Compact Muon Solenoid
The Compact Muon Solenoid experiment is one of two large general-purpose particle physics detectors built on the proton-proton Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland and France. Approximately 3,600 people from 183 scientific institutes, representing 38 countries form the CMS collaboration...
or CMS and Large Hadron Collider
Large Hadron Collider
The Large Hadron Collider is the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator. It is expected to address some of the most fundamental questions of physics, advancing the understanding of the deepest laws of nature....
or LHC. Pakistan will also set up the separate fund for the CMS and LHC particle detectors. Pakistan will also provide its scientists and engineers to help to developed and designed the particle and nuclear detectors at the CERN.
Engineering Research Laboratories (KRL)
As spring of 1976, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khad had took over the uranium enrichment programme from Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). The PAEC academic scientists were given transferred to Abdul Qadeer Khan's Engineering Research Laboratories (ERL) as he established the ERL. At ERL, he played a key role in the procurement and setting up of vital equipment necessary for uranium enrcihment. Ali closely collaborated with dr. Khan's work, mainly HEUEnriched uranium
Enriched uranium is a kind of uranium in which the percent composition of uranium-235 has been increased through the process of isotope separation. Natural uranium is 99.284% 238U isotope, with 235U only constituting about 0.711% of its weight...
projects that were led by dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. However, Abdul Qadeer Khan's brought blue-prints were incomplete and mostly incorrect, as the errors were discovered by dr. Ghulam Dastigar Allam. The team was unable to developed the centrifuge machine according to Khan's stolen blueprints. Meantime, dr. Allam visited Quaid-i-Azam University
Quaid-i-Azam University
The Quaid-i-Azam University is a public, research university in Islamabad Capital Territory of Pakistan. It was initially founded as the "University of Islamabad" in July 1967...
's Physics Hall where he met with Tasnim Shah
Tasneem M. Shah
Tasneem M. Shah, Ph.D., SI, TI, is a Pakistani scientist and a prominent mathematician who has made pioneering and instrumental research and contributions to the field of computational fluid dynamics at Dr. A. Q. Khan Research Laboratories...
, a mathematician, and delegated him to joined the ERL. Shah gained fame when he independently developed the powerful version of the technology brought by Khan; Ali began to work dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. In 1980, the ERL succeeded to make HEU enriched fuel under Abdul Qadeer Khan. In 1981, Ali and other academic scientists developed serious differences with Abdul Qadeer Khan over his nuclear proliferation network. In 1981, Ali notified the Abdul Qadeer Khan's proliferation to the Government, which Khan denied. To avoid confrontation, President
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
and Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq gave transferred Ali and other PAEC's academic scientists back to PAEC.
According to the associate press of Pakistan, Ali has had career assignments which include working at the KRL, where he served as one of the directors and carried out work, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan, having “fundamental significance”—an euphemism for working on gas centrifuge technology for nuclear weapons at the facility.
During his stay at the KRL, Ali was incharge of research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
division where he is credited to installed high powered and high-tech computer program and department to electronically monitor the facility from in and out 24/7.
Allegations of nuclear proliferation and trafficking
Canadian court papers describing certain early activities in support of the Pakistani nuclear weapons procurement program note the participation of 'Anwar Ali' in a 1980 smuggling operation in Canada that led to the arrest of three men. A Wall Street Journal investigation in 1984, based on court documents and interviews with Canadian officials stated:"In July 1980, two members of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission came here in secret with a high-priority shopping list: vital parts of Pakistan’s fledgling effort to become a nuclear power. According to court records here, the two Pakistani officials/scientists who came to Canada – Anwar Ali and I.A. Bhatty – brought with them a list of parts needed for a key item embargoed by the U.S. and others, a high-frequency inverter. This exotic electrical device is used to spin a gas centrifuge at extremely high speeds to enrich uranium.
The parts were bought from manufacturers, including General Electric Co., Westinghouse Electric Corp., RCA Corp., and Motorola, Inc., by two small electrical equipment stores in Montreal, according to the court papers. Then they were repackaged and shipped on to the Pakistan".
However, none of the senior Pakistani scientists were arrested. With lack of evidences and proofs, the investigation was undergone. The judicial investigation was closed and all of three scientists were sat free, two were fined $3,000 each on a minor technical charge.
Legacy
Dr. Anwar Ali is widely credited with the development of computer codes and ultra-precision equipment for the Pakistani nuclear program. He was the distinguished team member of PAEC Chairman Mr. Munir Ahmad KhanMunir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
. He has given opportunity to work with both known nuclear scientists of Pakistan, dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and Munir Ahmad Khan. Despite of the nuclear proliferation allegation, Anwar Ali played an important role in nuclear safety program of Pakistan. He is an avid supporter of science and technology in Pakistan. As PAEC Chairman, he established high-power laser physics
Laser Physics
Laser Physics is an international scientific journal published by Nauka/Interperiodica. It is distributed through the Springer.-Topics covered:The journal specializes in laser physics, but also publishes papers about:...
, Fusion Laboratory, Synchrotron Light Machine and optics science institution throughout the country. As he completed his term as PAEC Chairman, He concluded:
"I must mention here that our achievements would not have been possible without the competence and commitment of the human resource of PAEC, and I take this opportunity to record my appreciations for them."
As PAEC Chairman, Ali played a crucial role in Pakistan's peaceful purpose civilian nuclear program. In an televised interview with The News International
The News International
The News International , published in tabloid size, is the largest English language newspaper in Pakistan. The News has an ABC certified circulation of 140,000. It is published from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad...
, Ali said:" Initially, we have identified six sites in different parts of the country and are looking into suitability of these sites for setting up nuclear power plant
Nuclear power plant
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is one or more nuclear reactors. As in a conventional thermal power station the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity.Nuclear power plants are usually...
."
He said " the government had given agency a target to produce 8,800 MWs through nuclear power by the year 2030. [The PAEC] were in touch with some friendly countries for installation of new nuclear power
plants but it would be premature to say which country would be chosen for this purpose." In 6 April 2009, Ali retire from PAEC as a Chairman and chief nuclear scientist. After his retirement he has joined Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences as a professor of nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
. He is also serving University's board of Governor as well as professor of nuclear engineering.
Sources
- http://cns.miis.edu/other/wmdi060504b.htm
- http://www.pakdef.info/forum/showthread.php?t=8063
- http://www.paec.gov.pk/news-archive-pakatom/na-p-mj07.htm
- http://www.paec.gov.pk/news-archive-pakatom/na-p-mj07.htm
- http://www.wmdinsights.org/I5/SA1_NewHeadOfPakistan.htm
- PAEC-CERN Collaboration
- http://www.pieas.edu.pk/about/_bog.php
- Anwar ali