The Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), a leading agricultural research centre of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), organised a national field day on high-value oil crops—particularly castor bean and sesame—here on Thursday. Dr. Shakeel Abbas Rofi, Member (Science), PAEC, was the chief guest on this occasion. In his address, Member (Science) highlighted PAEC’s contribution to the socioeconomic development of the country through nuclear-technology applications. He shared that PAEC has been striving to achieve sustainable development goals in various areas of national importance. Dr. Rofi said, “It gives me immense pleasure to attend this national event. PAEC was established in 1956 with the mandate of the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Four agricultural-research centres of PAEC are working hard to ensure food security for the country.” In the health sector, PAEC is catering to the diagnostic and treatment needs of a large proportion of cancer patients in the country through its network of Atomic Energy Cancer Hospitals. Radio-pharmaceutical kits and isotopes produced by the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) for cancer diagnosis are being supplied to cancer hospitals across the country and the region. Similarly, the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), a world-class engineering university, offers courses in nuclear and related engineering fields as well as emerging disciplines such as lasers and quantum mechanics. Affiliated institutes including the Karachi Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering (KINPOE) and Chasnupp Centre for Nuclear Training (CHASCENT) are also contributing by training technical manpower for PAEC and other national organisations. Member (Science) further shared that six nuclear power plants (NPPs) of PAEC are providing 3,530 MW of climate-friendly, cost-effective and reliable nuclear energy to the national grid. These plants are also known for their exceptional reliability and availability. He emphasised that PAEC enjoys an excellent reputation for professionalism and integrity, and such organisations serve as a ray of hope for the country. He encouraged the adoption of honest practices to earn livelihoods and underscored that complacency should have no place in society. Harmful practices—such as the use of steroids for enhancing milk production in livestock—should be avoided. He stressed that it is both a national duty and a religious obligation to prevent adulteration and ensure the well-being of food consumers. He added that achieving self-sufficiency is a growing challenge, and progressive farmers must step forward to support research and development institutes like NIAB. Earlier, Prof. Dr. M. Yusouf Saleem, Director General (Agri & Biotech), PAEC, congratulated NIAB on organising this informative and interactive national event. Dr. Uzma Maqbool, Director NIAB, welcomed the participants and explained the purpose of conducting the national field day, aimed at promoting castor bean and sesame through technology-transfer initiatives. She also presented a detailed overview of NIAB’s various scientific divisions. On this occasion, Dr. Mehmood-ul-Hassan, focal person for castor bean and sesame at NIAB, delivered a comprehensive presentation related to the event. Dr. Ayub Khan, National Project Director, Pakistan Oil Seed Department, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, also addressed the gathering. Experts from different provinces, as well as stakeholders associated with castor bean and sesame—including progressive farmers, seed companies, industry representatives, exporters, scientists, and faculty members of R&D institutes and universities—participated in the event. The field day included visits to NIAB’s varieties such as NIAB Gold, NIAB Spineless, and NIAB Castor-2023, which are climate-smart, high-yielding and have short maturity duration. At the conclusion of the event, pre-basic seeds of NIAB’s castor bean and sesame varieties were distributed among progressive farmers. Castor bean is primarily used for extracting castor oil, which has industrial and medicinal applications and is also used as a biofuel. Sesame remains in high demand due to its significant export potential and high oil content.
