NIFA holds workshop on "Canning of Fruits and Vegetables"

Food processing is an important sector of the national economy and has a great potential for export. As part of the efforts to play its due role in development of this sector, Food Science Division (FSD) of NIFA organized a one- day workshop on "Canning of Fruits and Vegetables" on June 22, 2011. Thirty four participants from various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the workshop.

The workshop comprised of two lectures; one on “Canning of Fruits and Vegetables” and the other on “Role of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA)” which were delivered by Dr. Maazullah Khan, PE and Mr. Adnan (SMEDA), respectively. Practical demonstration of the canning process for tomatoes was carried out. Certificates were distributed among the participants in the concluding ceremony.

Honour for PAEC Scientist

Dr. Ghulam Shabbir Naz

Dr. Ghulam Shabbir Naz, Senior Scientist, PAEC, Islamabad, has been awarded Young Scientist Award as a best presenter in a Conference on Contemporary Physics organized by Pakistan Physical Society (PPS) and University of Gujrat (UoG) held at UoG from 15-17 November 2011. The title of his oral paper presentation was “Exploring High-Energy-Density Systems”. There were participants from all leading national universities and R&D organizations who presented their work in different fields like plasma physics, condensed matter physics, material science, atomic, molecular and nano physics, laser physics and high energy density physics.

NIA organizes workshop on "Nutrient Management for Better Crop Production"

A two-day workshop on “Nutrient Management for Better Crop Production” was organized by Soil Science Division of PAEC’s Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) Tando Jam on 26-27 July, 2011. Thirty four participants from different organizations including Agriculture Research Sindh, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tando Jam, Shaheed Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto Agriculture College and fertilizer companies such as Engro Fertilizers Limited, Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited and Pak-Arab Fertilizers Limited attended the workshop.

The 1st technical session was chaired by Dr. Kazi Suleman Memon, Coordinator (Projects & Programs), SAU, Tando Jam. The 2nd technical session was chaired by Dr. Inayatullah Rajpar, Chairman, Department of Soil Science, SAU, Tando Jam. The lectures covered a variety of topics of soil sciences especially Organized Farming, Integrated Plant Nutrition System, Soil Nitrogen Dynamics and Crop Production, Sustainable Phosphorus Nutrition of Plants, Production Technology of Cereals, Bio-fortification and Zn-efficiency in wheat, phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria and the Occurrence and Correction of Boron Deficiency.

On the second day of the workshop, the field and laboratory visits were arranged for the participants followed by the scientific discussion. The participants and the organizers discussed different soil and agriculture related problems to share the knowledge. In the concluding session, Director, NIA, Mr. M. Afzal Arain awarded certificates to to the participants.

 A success story "Rinderpest eradicated from the world”

Rinderpest, also referred to as cattle plague, is a viral disease caused by rinderpest virus (RPV). This is the first time an animal disease has been eradicated in the world, just as smallpox is the only human disease that has so far been eradicated. Global RP eradication is regarded as the biggest achievement of veterinary history.

Dr.Qaiser M. Khan, Head of Environmental Biotechnology Division, NIBGE participated in the national RP eradication program as a P.I of a collaborative TC-IAEA project, "Setting up of immunoassay and molecular based methods to monitor and survey the rinderpest disease for its control in Pakistan". Under this project, for the first time in the country, PCR based molecular diagnostic facilities for RP diagnosis & differential diagnosis were established and were successfully applied for testing the field samples. Moreover, 12000 clinical samples were also tested for RPV serosurveillance by using immunoassay method. In 2003, with the collaboration of IAEA, a national training course for molecular diagnosis of rinderpest virus was also held at NIBGE. In the same year, RP eradication program resulted in Pakistan being declared as provisionally rinderpest free. Finally, in 2007, World Organization for Animal Health (OlE) accredited Pakistan as a rinderpest free country. It was a landmark in the history of national livestock sector. This status had a very positive impact on livestock related export.

On 4th June 2011, a "National Ceremony to celebrate the Eradication of Rinderpest in Pakistan" was held under FAO-PAK at Islamabad in which Dr. Qaiser M. Khan (Head, EBD, NIBGE) was awarded a certificate to recognize his contribution in eradication of rinderpest in Pakistan.

A short course on “Key Issues in Nuclear Science and Technology” at Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Dr. Muhammad Aslam, Rector, PIEAS
awarding certificate to a course participant.

About 40 young professionals from various establishments of PAEC participated in a short course on “Key Issues in Nuclear Science and Technology,” which was held at Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad from 26-30 September 2011. The course was jointly organized by Applied Systems Analysis Division (ASAD) and PIEAS.

The opening session was inaugurated by Dr. Inam-ur-Rahman, the founder of PIEAS.

Mr. Waqar Murtaza Butt, Member (Engineering), PAEC, briefed the audience about the indigenization of the nuclear power program of PAEC. Dr. Muhammad Arshad, Director, Project Management Directorate, PAEC talked about the innovations in the Nuclear Power Reactor Designs, which included inherently safe reactors in addition to advanced light water reactors, large sized Generation-IV reactors and small and medium sized reactors etc. He mentioned that PAEC is keeping a track of these developments under an IAEA project INPRO (International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles).

In total, there were 21 lectures delivered by senior professionals from PAEC, PNRA and SPD. The topics of these lectures were related to almost all aspects of nuclear science and technology including Quality Assurance, Regulatory Framework for Nuclear Power, Radioactive Waste Management, Applications of Radioisotopes in Hydrology, Industry and Medicine etc.

Dr. Muhammad Aslam, Rector PIEAS, graced the closing ceremony and distributed certificates among the participants.

Training workshop on "Indigenous Medicinal plants - Cultivation to Marketing" at NIFA, Peshawar

Glimpses of concluding ceremony and hands-on demonstration
for application of medicinal plants at NIFA, Peshawar.

The use and benefits of herbal medicines are well known. There are around 6000 types of wild plants in Pakistan, but, unfortunately, the herbal resources of the country are underutilized due to the lack of knowledge and modern processing skills.

In this context, Food Science Division at NIFA organized a training workshop on "Indigenous Medicinal Plants- Cultivation to Marketing" on 21st September 2011. Dr. Khanzadi Fatima Khattak was the chief organizer of the event. Twenty one participants from different sectors of the society including progressive farmers, extension workers, and students attended the workshop. Conceptual and practical in-depth demonstrations were made to the participants by the organizer on cultivation, collection, processing, grading, product formulation and quality of plant materials.

Members’ Assignments Abroad

Members’ Assignments Abroad

• Mr, Waqar Murtaza Butt, Member (Engineering) attended IAEA Technical Meeting on Options to Enhance Energy Supply Security with Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) Based on Small & Medium Size Reactors from 03-06 October, 2011 in Vienna, Austria.
   

• Mr. Saeed Alam Siddiqui, Member (Power), PAEC attended WANO Biennial General Meeting, and WANO-TC Governing Board Meeting at Shenzhen, China from 22-26 October, 2011.

Assignments of PAEC Experts Abroad

• Mr. Zia-ul-Hasan Siddiqui, Member (CAC), PAEC participated as reviewer in IAEA OSART Mission at Cape Town, South Africa from 22 August to 8 September 2011.
   

• Syed Waseem Akhtar, PE, DNPGF participated in the Water Reactor Fuel Performance Meeting at Chengdu, China from 11-14 September, 2011 as invited Expert.
   

• Mr. Muhammad Saleem Ullah, Manager (ESP) Principal Scientist, ASAD, PAEC undertook assignment as IAEA Expert for Technical Meeting on Prospects for Nuclear Power under Alternative Electricity Market Regulation Schemes at IAEA HQ, Vienna (Austria) from 17-19 October, 2011.
   

• Mr. Asmat Ullah Abul Khairi, Deputy Chief Engineer, Karachi Nuclear Power Complex (KNPC), Karachi is undertaking assignment as KANUPP Representative (KANREP) with Candu Owners Group (COG) Office, Toronto, Canada for a period of six months from 24 October, 2011 to 23 March, 2012.

Visit of Foreigner to Pakistan

Ms. Judith Kay Brown visited NIBGE, Faisalabad from 28-29 August, 2011 to discuss USDA project on cotton leaf curl virus. Her visit is sponsored by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), USA.

1st two-day national workshop on “Edible Oils and Oilseeds Quality Assessment” concludes at NIFA

A group photo of participants of the workshop with D.G. (Agri & Biotech), Director, NIFA and organizers at NIFA, Peshawar.

Keeping in view the facilities and expertise for quality assessment of agriculture products, a 1st two-day national workshop on "Edible Oils and Oil Seeds Quality Assessment" was jointly organized by Plant Breeding & Genetic Division and Food Science Division at Nuclear Institute for Food & Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar from September 7-8, 2011.
Twenty two participants including chemists, food technologists, biochemists, plant breeders, agronomists, food nutritionists, biologists and bio-technologists from 18 research and academia institutions of the country participated in the workshop. The workshop consisted of lectures and hands-on training of edible oils quality analysis by non-destructive technique viz. near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and gas chromatography (GC).

Breakthrough in laser cooling for the first time in Pakistan by PAEC Scientists

Scientists at PAEC’s National Institute of Lasers and Optronics (NILOP) have successfully trapped cesium (Cs) atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) on 30th August 2011. The atoms were brought to a virtual halt by cooling them down to about 0.5 degree mK. In a MOT, the laser beams are used to cool down atoms that are trapped in a magnetic field well. The technique has very interesting applications such as precise atomic clocks, high resolution spectroscopy, atomic collisions at near absolute zero temperature and atomic beam nano fabrications. The cold atoms can also be used as atomic lasers in which photons are used as mirrors for reflecting atoms.

Training Programme on “Security of Sealed Radioactive Sources”

A training programme on "Security of Sealed Radioactive Sources (SRS)" was organized at PINUM, Faisalabad in collaboration with Pakistan Nuclear Regulator Authority (PNRA) from 19th - 20th July 2011.

In this course, 23 participants from different organizations of PAEC and other commercial organizations using radioactive sources were imparted training. Mr. M. Afzal Nadeem, Pr. Scientist, PINUM was the chief organizer from host institute. Dr. Abubaker Shahid, Director, PINUM, chaired the inaugural session and appreciated the significance of the course in terms of safety and security.

The course was beneficial for the users to enable them enhance the security of radioactive sealed sources. Dr. Javaid Akhtar, Director NIAB was the chief guest at the closing ceremony and distributed certificates among the course participants.

Seminar on Multidisciplinary Treatment of Thyroid Cancer at PINUM

PAEC’s PINUM Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad arranged a seminar on the treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma on October 20, 2011. Surgeons, physicians, oncologists and nuclear physicians from various institutes of the city attended the seminar. Two talks were delivered by the surgeons from Punjab Medical College, & DHQ Hospital, Faisalabad.

Dr. M. Saeed Akhtar, PMO and Dr. M. Babar Imran, PMO from PINUM presented the guidelines and treatment protocols for radioactive I-131 treatment. Prof. Riaz Hussain Dab, Principal, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad was the chief guest. Dr. Abubaker Shahid, Director PINUM mentioned various activities of the institute.
 

Auto Laser Land Leveler Transmitter: a New Version

Auto Laser Land Leveler Transmitter

Scientists at (NILOP) have successfully designed and developed the Auto Laser Land Leveler, a new and upgraded version of the previous Agro Laser Land Leveler. This system is very much popular in agriculture due to its low cost, high efficiency, easy operation and remarkable after-sale support by PAEC.

NILOP has the honor of developing and producing Agro Laser Land Leveler system for the first time in Pakistan. Work on indigenization of the Laser Land Leveler system was started in 2000 and first system was delivered in 2002. More than 1000 systems have been sold and are contributing in the socio-economic development of the country.

Breast Cancer Awareness Activities at PAEC’s Gujranwala Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy

The incidence of breast cancer is increasing steadily in our region with a growing number of young patients reporting at advanced stages of the disease. We need to put in a lot of efforts to combat this deadly disease by encouraging early detection and timely treatment. To join in this cause, our team at GINUM remained busy throughout October, the Breast Cancer awareness month. Various lectures were delivered by Director GINUM, Dr. Sohail Murad and Dr. Asima Sohail, at Women Institutions and doctors meetings etc. A large scale seminar was held at GINUM on 31st October, 2011 for Lady Health Visitors of Gujranwala region. More than 180 women attended the seminar. The occasion was graced by Dr. Nisar Ahmad Cheema (EDO health Gujranwala) and Dr. Mahjabeen (DOH Gujranwala).

Apart from this, free screening camps were held at DHQ hospital Gujranwala and at a village Jalal Balugan. A large number of mammograms were conducted during these camps. Numerous breast ultrasounds, core biopsies and FNAs were also performed.

Source: PAKATOM Newsletter November - December 2011 issue (SI&PR Division, PAEC)