Islamabad: Pakistan has formally become Associate Member of the prestigious European organisation for nuclear research, CERN.

A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed by Director-General CERN Dr Rolf-Dieter Heuer and Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Dr Ansar Parvez in Islamabad on Friday.

The ceremony was attended, among others, by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Speaking on the occasion, the Sharif described it as a landmark moment in the development of science in Pakistan.