Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology
Encyclopedia
The Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, also known as NIAB, is an agriculture and food irradiation
national research institute
managed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
. Along with Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the NIAB reports directly to the PAEC Biological Science Directorate
whose its current member is dr. Abdul Rashid
. The current director is dr. Javed Akhtar, and it is located in Fasailabad, Punjab Province of Pakistan.
when PAEC established its first Biological Science Directorate in 1965. In 1967, with the efforts led by dr. Abdus Salam
, the Government
approved a project, and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission began its construction. The operations and research began in 1970, and it was officially inaugurated by Munir Ahmad Khan
, then Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, in April 6, 1972. Khan later developed the institute and led the research activities in the institution. The nuclear medical research was also put under Khan, and NIAB had developed 23 different crop varieties, which are high yielding; they are disease resistant and are being cultivated throughout the country.
At first, the institute was mandate to create and maintain new genetic material for sustained agriculture development and to conduct research on applied problems in the field of agriculture and biology using nuclear and other related techniques.
irradiation sources, gas chromatographs, Photo-documentation system, and atomic absorption.
Food irradiation
Food irradiation is the process of exposing food to ionizing radiation to destroy microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, or insects that might be present in the food. Further applications include sprout inhibition, delay of ripening, increase of juice yield, and improvement of re-hydration...
national research institute
Ministry of Science and Technology (Pakistan)
The Ministry of Science and Technology , is a Cabinet-level ministry of government of Pakistan concerned with science and technology in Pakistan and in general, Pakistan's science policies, planning, coordination and directing of efforts to initiate and launch scientific and technological programs...
managed by 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...
. Along with Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the NIAB reports directly to the PAEC Biological Science Directorate
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...
whose its current member is dr. Abdul Rashid
Abdul Rashid (agriculturist)
Abdul Rashid, , is a Pakistani Nuclear and Bioscientist, currently a member of the Biosciences division of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council . He was previously Director General of the National Agricultural Research Center, from 2006 — 2008...
. The current director is dr. Javed Akhtar, and it is located in Fasailabad, Punjab Province of Pakistan.
History
The NIAB was established by Ishrat Hussain UsmaniIshrat Hussain Usmani
Ishrat Hussain Usmani, , , , best known as Dr. I. H. Usmani, was a Pakistani bureaucrat and an atomic physicist who was the chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1960 to 1972; as well as the Co-chairman of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission...
when PAEC established its first Biological Science Directorate in 1965. In 1967, with the efforts led by dr. Abdus Salam
Abdus Salam
Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk (Urdu: محمد عبد السلام, pronounced , (January 29, 1926– November 21, 1996) was a Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate in Physics for his work on the electroweak unification of the...
, the Government
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...
approved a project, and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission began its construction. The operations and research began in 1970, and it was officially inaugurated 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...
, then Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, in April 6, 1972. Khan later developed the institute and led the research activities in the institution. The nuclear medical research was also put under Khan, and NIAB had developed 23 different crop varieties, which are high yielding; they are disease resistant and are being cultivated throughout the country.
At first, the institute was mandate to create and maintain new genetic material for sustained agriculture development and to conduct research on applied problems in the field of agriculture and biology using nuclear and other related techniques.
Facilities
The institute is equipped with well-equipped laboratories having facilities. The institute currently operates 60CoCobalt-60
Cobalt-60, , is a synthetic radioactive isotope of cobalt. Due to its half-life of 5.27 years, is not found in nature. It is produced artificially by neutron activation of . decays by beta decay to the stable isotope nickel-60...
irradiation sources, gas chromatographs, Photo-documentation system, and atomic absorption.