ROLE OF PCSIR IN S&T DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN

1. ROLE OF PCSIR IN S&T DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN By Dr. Javed Arshad Mirza, HI, SI Chairman

2. It is universally recognized that prosperity and security of a country is directly linked with the advancement in the field of science & technology. A country, which fails to achieve and apply science and scientific practices in a meaningful way, is going to pay a heavy penalty of remaining always behind the technically superior nations.

3. Realizing this fact, the Government of Pakistan established Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR) under Societies Act in 1953. PCSIR was expected to under-take scientific research in both pure and applied fields, to exploit the country’s indigenous natural resources and to solve the problems of the newly established industries.

4. PCSIR, which started its functions at Naval Barracks Karachi back in March 1953 with a skeleton staff of about 20 persons including 3 senior scientists, has progressively grown over the years into a premium R&D organization of the country. PCSIR did not inherit any assets of pre-independence research organizations.

5. Therefore, soon after its inception in 1953, PCSIR embarked upon plans for setting-up multi-disciplinary laboratories in various parts of the country, which comprised a number of research divisions in the fields of national importance such as minerals & metallurgy, glass & ceramics, building materials, pharmaceuticals, oil and fats, plastics, food, leather, fuel and other scientific disciplines of chemistry, physics, bio-chemistry and engineering.

6. In the first phase of its evolution (1953-73), multi-functional laboratories and institutions that were engaged mainly in basic research, were established in major cities. Human resource development programmes were also initiated.

7. In the second phase (1973-1993), the council was given more autonomy through PCSIR Act 1973. Emphasis was put on applied research, to maximize utilization of indigenous resources, raw materials and technologies. Import substitutions were an economic objective of the Government and PCSIR played a significant role towards advancing that goal.

8. Organizational Structure Federal Government Federal Minister/ Secretary Ministry of Science & Technology The Chairman Council (21 members) Federal & Provincial Governments Industrial Sector PCSIR Members/ DGs Governing Body (3 members) Member (Science) Member (Technology) Member (Finance) Labs/ Units of PCSIR

9. Present scope of activities may be classified as: • Systematic evaluation, development and utilization of indigenous raw materials, leading to development of new processes or products, or adaptation of known processes to local raw materials and conditions. • Conducting research and development work on problems that are being faced by the industrial sector • Improving the environmental conditions of the labs and installation of requisite equipment to enable accreditation of labs to acquire ISO 17025 certification to meet obligations under WTO.

10. Establishment of new science based and oriented industries which would help in improving the export performance of the country, in providing employment opportunities and in creating a self reliant and self sustaining industrial infrastructure. For this purpose a Technology Incubation Centers programme has been initiated.

11. PCSIR Laboratories/ Units • KARACHI LABS COMPLEX • LAHORE LABS COMPLEX • PESHAWAR LABS • QUETTA LABS • NATIONAL PHYSICAL & STANDARDS LAB, ISLAMABAD • FUEL RESEARCH CENTRE, KARACHI • LEATHER RESEARCH CENTRE, KARACHI • ENVIRONMENTAL LAB, ISLAMABD • PAK-SWISS TRAINING CENTRE, KARACHI • PRECISION SYSTEMS TRAINING CENTRE, QUETTA • INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS ENGG., KARACHI • SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION CENTRE, KARACHI • FOOD TRAINING CENTRE, SKARDU

12. History of Establishment • Karachi Labs Complex 1953 • Lahore Labs Complex 1953 • Peshawar Labs Complex 1956 • PSTC, Karachi 1970 • NPSL, Islamabad 1974 • Quetta Labs 1985 • Hyderabad Labs 1985 • Fuel Research Centre, Karachi 1988 • Leather Research Centre, Karachi 1988 • Environmental Laboratory, Islamabad 2000

13. Scientific & Administrative Staff of PCSIR Total working strength: 2515 Scientists/ Technologists: 949 (40% are female scientists) Technicians/ Skilled workers: 843 Administrative staff: 723

14. Non Development Budget of PCSIR Pak Rs (in million)

15. During the tenure of the present Government, a number of initiatives were taken to uplift the R&D infrastructure of PCSIR. As a result, a number of development projects were approved under PSDP during 2000-2006 and for the first time, substantial development budget has been released to PCSIR.

16. Development Projects • 49 projects of national importance worth Rs. 3.9 billion • were approved during 2000-06. • 32 projects worth Rs.3.804 billion are in pipeline. • 27 projects worth Rs. 1.209 billion have been completed • upto June 2006. • 22 projects worth Rs.2.607 billion are in progress.

17. Completed PSDP Projects • Projects for Capacity Building / HRD / Skill • Development: • Balancing and modernization of PSTC, Karachi. • Repair / Maintenance of Laboratory Equipments and Instrumentation. • Balancing, Modernization and Up-Gradation of R&D Facilities of PCSIR Laboratories, Peshawar.

18. Training of Equipment Service Technicians and Establishment of Repair Centers at PCSIR Laboratories, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad. • Up-Gradation of Leather Research Centre into Leather Research Institute. • Strengthening and BMR of R&D Capabilities of PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi.

19. II. Projects for Infrastructure Development: • Establishment of Precision System Training Centre, Quetta • Establishment of PCSIR Laboratories Skardu / Demonstration cum Training Centre for Rural Technologies in Northern Areas. • Setting-up Network of Analytical Centers for Industrial Analysis at PCSIR. • Construction of PCSIR Headquarter building, Islamabad. • Establishment of Process Control Instrumentation and Engineering Centre, Karachi. • Establishment of Medicinal Botanic Centre in PCSIR, Peshawar.

20. Projects for R&D Enhancement & Industrial • Services: • Upgradation of Institute of Industrial Electronics Engineering (IIEE), Karachi. • Utilization of Local Graphite Raw Material for Making Value Added Products. • Microbial Production of Anti-Biotic Zinc Bacitracin to supplement the Poultry Feed. • Establishment of Laboratory Facilities for the Determination of Neurotoxins in Food Grain & Cereals. • Development of Technology for the Production of Activated Carbon of high Adsorption Activity.

21. Development and Production of Low Cost Laboratory Equipment. • Production of Batch Type Incinerator for Bio-medical Waste. • Development / manufacturing of automatic Dye-baths for Textile Industries, at PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi. • Development of Technology for the Production of Lead Free Frits for the Ceramic Industry. • Development of Facilities for Rubber Technology at PCSIR Labs Karachi.

22. PCSIR’s Achievements PCSIR has developed a number of processes for the exploitation and use of natural resources. So far 1480 processes have been developed out of which 1127 have been leased out to local entrepreneurs. 460 patents have been registered. A large number of products have been developed including herbal medicine, drugs, beverages, industrial chemicals, agriculture by-products, health care products and value added food items.

23. A few important contributions of PCSIR in the area of utilization of minerals are: • Recovery of Alumina, Iron Oxide and Titanium Oxide from Ziarat Laterite. • Beneficiation of Chromite ore of Balochistan and the NWFP • Beneficiation and utilization of Phosphorite ores from Mirpur. • Processing of Kalabagh Iron ore into forms which • meet the demands of the iron and steel industry.

24. Extraction of Alumina from Khushab Bauxite. • Evaluation and feasibility study of Coal reserves in Sindh, • Balochistan and Punjab (Thar, Lakra, etc.) • Manufacturing of variety of Magnesium chemicals • Beneficiation of low as well as high grade graphite. • Manufacturing of special glasses. • Medium scale processes for the manufacture of insulating • bricks, alumina bricks and mortars. • Manufacturing of lead free frits.

25. Extraction of fatty acids for soap, detergents and cosmetics from paraffins. • Process for manufacturing of refined shark liver oil and vitamin A concentrate. • Extraction of edible protein concentrate from “barseem” for human and poultry consumption. • Process of detoxification of mustard seed • Processes for manufacturing of textile dyes • Process for the production of nicotine sulphate from tobacco waste – a well known natural insecticide.

26. Processes in the area of appropriate technologies, e.g. solar energy. • Processes for preservation of fruits and vegetables • Processes for development of new building materials and light-weight aggregates. • Processes for local manufacturing of organic and inorganic chemicals such as adhesives, sealing compositions, insect repellants, cosmetics, emulsifying agents, flavours, plastic laminates, synthetic pharmaceuticals, etc.

27. Medicinal Plants and Products • Considerable work has been done on medicinal plants, their chemistry and pharmacology. Main stress has been on isolation and characterization of anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and blood-cholesterol-lowering agents from these plants. • Number of medicinal/heath care products based on herbs have been developed such as; • Herbal hair oil • Conditioner & shampoo • Protein enriched oil

28. Red Balm • Anti Diarrhea Drops • Inhaler • Ab-e-Hayat and Musaffa mineral water • Iron Supplement, FAMVIC • Rub-N-Cure (a herbal analgesic balm) • Herbol (A herbal hair tonic) • Aloe Vera Oil • Aloe Vera based skin care ointment, • Seabuckthorn based vanishing cream, etc.

29. Clinical Diagnostic Kits Clinical Diagnostic Kits for blood, urine analysis (Calcium, Urea, Phosphate, Glucose, etc.) are being imported. PCSIR has developed these kits locally, which have already been approved by NIH, Agha Khan Hospital, Karachi and CMH Rawalpindi. Clinical Diagnostic Kits Developed by PCSIR, Karachi

30. Herbal Based Medicines Developed by PCSIR Peshawar for the treatment of Hepatitis

31. Agricultural Bi-Products • Oil and fats have been extracted from a number of agricultural products such as Peelu seed, which has been found to be an effective substitute for coconut and palm oils. According to an estimate, about 10,000 tons of fats can be recovered annually from this plant. • Cultivation of Edible Mushrooms

32. Food Products Developed • Production of Free Flowing Table Salt • Plain Sweetened Yogurt (Prime) • Soya Milk and Soya Yogurt • Iodized Salt • Production of Food Grade Di-calcium Phosphate • Production of Low Cholesterol Eggs • Development of Blended Wheat Flour for Diabetic Patients

33. Fortification of Wheat Flour With Vitamin A and Iron • White Meat Pickle in Oil • Development of Beef Sausages • Process for production of Bating Enzymes, for use in leather industry. • Nutritional Food Supplements • Soya Meat

34. Apricots Apricots fruit is abundantly grown in northern areas of Pakistan. The fruit was wasted due to lack of preservation/ storage facilities and un-hygienic practices. PCSIR has started a training programme for local community for the dehydration and hygienically packing and storage of the fruit. As a result its export and local use have increased manifold.

35. Solar Dryer • Dehydration – Processing of fruits like Apricot and Dates • Takes less time (40-60%) than • conventional drying. • Hygienic Conditions and maintains • the taste & quality. • Small Units can be placed anywhere • under the sun. Solar Dryer (1 ton capacity) Installed at PCSIR Laboratory, Skardu and Peshawar

36. Seabuckthorn Fruit Products Seabuckthorn is wild plant abundantly available in northern areas of Pakistan. Till very recently, this plant was being used only for hedges etc. The plant and its fruit is rich in vitamins A, C and E. PCSIR has developed a number of food items and health care products based on seabuckthorn.

37. Production of Strategic Chemicals • Soon after the Nuclear Detonations by Pakistan in 1998, embargo was imposed on Pakistan on the import of various chemicals and raw materials used in the defence sector. Starting from scratch and carrying out intensive R&D, PCSIR has successfully developed the processes for the manufacturing of various strategic chemicals such as barium chemicals from barytes, lead & antimony chemicals from lead-antimony ores, and other chemicals such as sodium azide, hexachloroethane and resorcinol, etc.

38. Development and Fabrication of Low Cost Laboratory Equipment PCSIR, under a development project, has established facilities at PCSIR Lahore and Karachi for development and production of low cost laboratory equipment such as UV-visible spectrometers, ovens, pH meters, furnaces, incubators, shakers, hot plates, heating mantel, etc

39. UV-Visible Spectrometer

40. ANALOGUE ELECTROPHORESIS APPARATUS DIGITAL ELECTROPHORESIS APPARATUS

41. ANALOGUE pH METER INTELLIGENT pH METER DIGITAL pH METER PORTABLE pH METER

42. CRUCIBLE FURNACE MUFFLE FURNACE TUBE FURNACE

43. COOLED INCUBATOR (4oC to 40oC) COOLED INCUBATORS (-10oC to +50oC)

44. MAGNETIC STIRRER HOT PLATE HEATING MANTLE (Different Capacity) HEAVY DUTY HOT PLATE

45. Fabrication of Pilot Plants PCSIR has fabricated a number of pilot plants such as solvent extraction plant, mini paper plant, Rotary Kiln for production of light weight aggregate, plant for production of barium chemicals etc.

46. Solvent Extraction Plant The extraction plant essentially consists of three units Reboiler, Extractor and Heat Exchanger. Operation stages involve vaporization of solvent, solvent-cake interaction and condensation of solvent. The oil-solvent mixture so obtained is subjected to distillation. Capacity: 50 Kg Neem Seed per batch. Medium of Heating: Steam Name of Client: HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi

47. Mini Paper Plant

48. Mini Paper Plant • The Plant is on trial production in PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi. • Salient features of the plant are as under: • Capacity of Production: 1.5 ton / day • Raw Material used: Waste paper • Characteristics of Paper Produced • Quality-Recycled medium grade writing paper & wrapping paper. • Width of the paper - 30// • Grammage of Paper - 60 – 80 grams.

49. Rotary Kiln for the Production of Light Weight Aggregate

50. Production of Light Weight Aggregate Lightweight concrete aggregate are materials weighing almost 50% of the usual aggregate of sand gravel and crushed rock. The Geo-technological investigations carried out by PCSIR laboratories Complex, Peshawar have shown excellent results for the use of Sangjani Shale (Punjab) and Manki Slate (NWFP) as raw material for lightweight aggregate. Lightweight aggregate provide a worthwhile saving in the weight of the structure and the desired special properties such as greater strength, fire resistance, thermal insulation, moisture resistance, sound insulation, wall strength, textured finish & workability, pre-casting application, better skid resistance etc.