PCSIR Islamabad

Achievements

NANOTECHNOLOGY

PCSIR established Pakistan Institute of Technology for Minerals and Advanced Engineering Materials (PITMAEM) aims to provide development and characterization facilities not only for in house R & D projects, but also for the industry.

Nanotechnology is an expected future manufacturing technology that will make most products lighter, stronger, cleaner, less expensive and more precise.It comprises any technological developments on the nanometer scale, usually 0.1 to 100 nm. Nanotechnology is a highly multidisciplinary area and involved a number of fields –such as applied physics, material sciences, supra-molecular chemistry, mechanicalengineering, mechatronics, chemical engineering, bioengineering and electricalengineering – with applications in diverse fields.

PITMAEM, PCSIR has the latest facilities like;

Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD)
Scanning Probe Microscope
Nano-indentation testing
Tribo testing
Nano Composite Coatings

These tools assure complete quality inspection of the thin films.

Nanotechnology has the potential of applications to all types of industries and is regarded as another industrial revolution technology of 21^st century. It will have great and important societal influence in our lives for several decades to come.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

PCSIR has developed High-Tech Biotechnology Lab. at PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Lahore. This lab assist in the development of food and bio-technology industry in the country through value-added output from low priced raw material, bio-resource development & utilization, quality assurance of finished products, industrial trouble shooting and attracting small & medium level entrepreneur to establish industry.

PCSIR plays an important role in the National growth / development in the following fields by rendering its services in:

Processing of potato waste for animal feed.
Production of pectin from citrus peel.
Bio-fertilizer.

PCSIR has developed the following processes / Products in the field of biotechnology:

Detoxification of animal feed	Biodegradable Plastic (PHB)
Bioethanol	Proteases
Amylases	Celluloses
Bacitracin	Lovastatin
Dextran	Premix for Wheat flour fortification.

PLANT TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUE

Sugarcane is one of a major agriculture crop of Pakistan and rank 4^th area wise, 14^th production wise, 16^th in yield and 8^th in terms of sugar consumption in the world. Whereas in Pakistan it holds the second major cash crop and used for production of white sugar. In Pakistan, the production and yield of sugarcane per hectare is far below its actual capacity and it stands at almost lowest in the world.

Scientist in PCSIR Labs Complex Karachi takeup the issue and conducted research on improvement of sugarcane crop, successfully develop a stress tolerant and high yielding variety of sugarcane (KLC-1) through tissue culture technique.

This tissue culture plant of sugarcane (KLC-1) produces:

Minimum 20 and maximum 35 tillers per plant.
Height of tiller ranges from 10 to 12 feet.
Sugar percentage is on average is 8-9 pol %.
The average yield of the Sugarcane KLC-I is 2000 to 2500 Munds per acre.

At present PCSIR Labs Complex Karachi is serving several sugarcane growers of Sindh and providing consultancy to improve the yield of sugarcane crop in the national interest.

LIGHTWEIGHT AGGREGATE

Lightweight aggregate (LWA) has long been used in many countries for a number of construction applications like high rise buildings, bridges and marine ships etc. The major significance of LWA is the reduction of dead load, which reduces the requirement of steel reinforcements and other components in foundations. In many instances, it also allows construction of additional floors upon existing structure.

PCSIR Labs. Complex, Peshawar take up the matter and succeed to develop Light Weight aggregate. It is one of the highest achievements of PCSIR Labs Complex, Peshawar to provide lightweight aggregate to M/S Sachal Engineering Works, Islamabad for the construction of Attock Bridge of Khairabad-Attock highway. The material was successfully utilized in the bridge to reduce its dead load. Besides this, LWA was also supplied to M/S Gammon Enterprises, Rawalpindi, for construction of Sherpao Bridge of Lahore.

Research & Development Achievements during years 2013-16

Sr. No.	Performance Indicator	Nos.
01	Processes Developed	214
02	Processes Leased-Out to the Industry	52
03	Patents Filed	78
04	Patents Obtained	14
05	Publications (International + National)	592
06	Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs)	86
07	Consultancy Services	143
08	Feasibility Reports Prepared	89

Technologies Ready for Commercialization