PINSTECH being the premier R&D organization of the country is doing work in various disciplines of nuclear technology and is trying its best to tap the best out of it in the areas of its peaceful applications. Fortunately, we are having high-level delegations from our neighboring countries these days. In the past two months, we had visitors from Turkey, Jordan and China. Collaboration among R&D organizations is of much importance in order to improve and expand on-going projects. Scientists / Engineers of this institute get exposed to fresh ideas and gain a lot from each others' experiences. We think, collaboration with our neighboring countries will be fruitful in increasing flexibility in resourcing and developing our competence.

Seminar on Processing and Applications of Composite Materials

Engr. Waqar Murtaza Butt, Member Engineering addressing the participants

January - February, 2013

A two days Seminar on “Processing and Applications of Composite Materials” was organized by the Materials Division (MD), from 22-23 January, 2013. The main objective of the seminar was to provide a forum for sharing knowledge and exchanging views, for useful industrial applications of composite materials and promoting mutual collaboration within various PAEC establishments. The seminar broadly covered all aspects of science and technology of composite materials, ranging from material design, processing and fabrication, structure & property characterization, modeling and simulation, to a variety of application scenarios. The seminar was inaugurated by Engr. Waqar Murtaza Butt, Member Engineering. In his augural speech, he appreciated the efforts of PINSTECH in general and Materials Division in particular in highlighting such important topic. He hoped that deliberations of this event will certainly help material scientists and engineers in understanding the newer aspect of design, development and applications of various types of composites. He also stressed that this two days seminar should be seen as an opportunity for long term collaboration between different PAEC establishments. The seminar was attended by more than sixty participants from various establishments of PAEC.

Workshop participants with organizers

Dr. Javed Iqbal Akhter

Mr. Iqbal Hussain KhanMr. Asif BashirDr. Ishtiaq Hussain Bokhari

Scientific Information DivisionPINSTECH, P.O. Nilore, Islamabad Ph. 051-9248801-7 Ext. 4452Fax 051- 9248808 E-mail: newsletter@pinstech.org.pk

A Workshop on “Utilization of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for different Matrices” was conducted by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) laboratory,

Workshop on Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Spectroscopy Group, Chemistry Division, from 18-22 February 2013. Dr. Javed Bashir, Director Science inaugurated the workshop. Twenty officers and technical staff from different PAEC establishments (DTD, SPF, CMT, UML, NLP, C-1, C-3, C-4, NMC-1, KCP-II and Optics Labs.), DESTO, Rawalpindi, professors and students from Islamia University, Bahawalpur, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, and Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat were registered and trained on the technique through eight technical sessions. In these technical sessions seven presentations were given to incorporate different theoretical aspects of the technique ranging from instrumentation of AAS, different modes of atomization, sampling and sample preparation protocols to applications of AAS. In practical sessions samples of varied nature such as metallurgical, geological, biological and certified materials were analyzed by the participants. They also performed experiment for the pollution abatement study using cheaper and easily available material, under the guidance of Dr. Nasir Khalid, DCS and Dr. Suhaila Rehman, DCS as resource personnel of the workshop. The ultimate aim of the workshop was seemed to be achieved, as on the completion of the workshop, participants were well aware of theoretical and operational technicalities of the AAS depicted from their assessment made at the end of workshop and also through comments made by the participants in the concluding session.

ISSUE NO 20

Jordanian Delegation Visits PINSTECH

Dr. Zafer ALPER, President TAEK, Dr. Ali TANRIKUT, Director Saraykoy Nuclear Research & Training Centre, accompanied by Dr. Ahmet Erdel OSMANLIOGLU, Director Saraykoy Nuclear Research & Training Centre, TAEK, Mr. Irfan KOCA, Head, R & D and Coordination Department, TAEK and Mr. Egemen OZLAP, 2nd Secretary, Turkish Embassy visited PINSTECH on 14th February 2013. Director General, PINSTECH Dr. Javed Iqbal Akhter welcomed the delegation and gave a brief introduction of PINSTECH highlighting the major facilities and scientific/technical activities carried out at PINSTECH. The delegation indicated that Turkey wanted to train manpower in various areas and urged to provide help in this regard. The delegation visited various labs of PINSTECH.

Ala-al-Din Abu al-Hasan Ali Ibn Abi al-Hazm al-Qarshi al-Damashqi known as Ibn-al-Nafis was born in 607 A.H. at Damascus. He was educated at the Medical Col lege-cum-Hospital founded by Nur al-Din Zangi. Apart from medicine, Ibn al-Nafis learnt jur isprudence, l i terature and theology. He thus became a

Great Muslim Scientist

Visiting Jordanian Delegation with Member Science & DG PINSTECH

Visiting Chinese Delegation with Member Science and DG PINSTECH

renowned expert on Shafi'i School of Jurisprudence as well as a reputed physician. After acquiring his expertise in medicine and jurisprudence, he moved to Cairo where he was appointed as the Principal at the famous Nasri Hospital. Here he imparted training to a large number of medical specialists, including Ibn al-Quff al-Masihi, the famous surgeon. He also served at the Mansuriya School at Cairo. His major contribution lies in medicine. His approach comprised writing detailed commentaries on early works, critically evaluating them and adding his own original contribution. His major original contribution of great significance was his discovery of the blood's circulatory system, which was re-discovered by modern science after a lapse of three centuries. He was the first to correctly describe the constitution of the lungs and gave a description of the bronchi and the interaction between the human body's vessels for air and blood. Also, he elaborated the function of the coronary arteries as feeding the cardiac muscle. The most voluminous of his books is Al-Shamil fi al-Tibb, which was designed to be an encyclopedia comprising 300 volumes. His book on ophthalmology is largely an original contribution and is also extant. However, his book that became most famous was Mujaz al-Qanun and a number of commentaries were written on this. His own commentaries include one on Hippocrates' book. He wrote several volumes on Ibn Sina's Qanun, that are still extant. Likewise, he wrote a commentary on Hunayn Ibn Ishaq's book. Another famous book embodying his original contribution was on the effects of diet on health, entitled Kitab al-Mukhtar fi al-Aghdhiya. Ibn Al-Nafis' works integrated the then existing medical knowledge and enriched it, thus exerting great influence on the development of medical science, both in the East and the West. However, only one of his books was translated into Latin at early stages and, therefore, a part of his work remained unknown to Europe for a long time. He died in 678 A. H and donated his house, library and clinic to the Mansuriya Hospital.

Dr. Khalid Taukan, Chairman Jordan Atomic Energy Commission along with five member delegation visited PINSTECH. He was accompanied by Dr. Badar Suleman, Member Science. The delegation visited various laboratories of the institute and had useful discussion on the topics of mutual interest, particularly in the area of peaceful application of Nuclear Science and Technology.

Turkish Delegation visits PINSTECH

A five members delegation from China National Nuclear Cooperation / China Zhongyuan Engineering Cooperation (CNNC/CZEC) accompanied by Syed Javed Manawar, Director (Tech) NP, PAEC visited PINSTECH on January 30, 2013. Director General, PINSTECH Dr. Javed Iqbal Akhter welcomed the delegation and presented a brief introduction of PINSTECH highlighting the major facilities and scientific/technical activities carried out at the institute. The delegation also visited various facilities at PINSTECH.

China High Level Delegation visits PINSTECH

Visiting Turkish Delegation with DG PINSTECH

Isotope Production Division (IPD) was part of Nuclear

Chemistry Division as Radioisotope Production Group

(RIPG) from beginning of PINSTECH and became

Division in 2001. The main objectives of the division are

production of different radiopharmaceuticals and supply

of its products to more than 46 hospitals in Pakistan. The

group activities are as follows:

�Production of Mo-99 (weekly)�Production of Mo-99/Tc-99m generators (weekly) �Production of Iodine-131 (weekly), P-32, Na-24, Lu-

177, Au-198, Ho-166, Sm-153 etc.�In-vivo diagnostic Kits i.e. MIBI, MDP, DTPA, MAG-3,

DMSA, DISIDA, Phytate, HMPAO, Dextran and

Adenosine injection etc.

�Synthesis of Precursor, MAG-3, DISIDA for kits.IPD is one of the few laboratories of the Pakistan Institute

of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH),

Islamabad that has achieved unique status through the

distribution of its products and services all over Pakistan.

Production of radioisotopes started since Pakistan

Research Reactor-I (PARR-I) went critical in December

1965. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) is

helping government in health sector by operating 17

Nuclear medical centers in Pakistan, while a few more are

expected functioning shortly. In these medical centers

more than 300,000 patients are treated every year. For

many years, Isotope Production laboratories are meeting

almost all the demands of Sodium Iodide (131I) and cold

kits for 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals for these centers.

Sterile PAKGEN 99mTc generators are also being

fabricated in a 99Mo loading clean room facility created

under an International Atomic Energy Agency Technical

Cooperation Project. These days IPD is also providing its

products to 29 private and government hospitals for the

treatment of patients with nuclear medicine. With the

constant support of PAEC/PINSTECH, the IPD has

upgraded its production and quality control installations

with technologically advanced equipments, aiming

towards maximum automation and standardization, by

strictly following the methodologies of Good

Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and the protocols of

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna,

Austria. The products are ISO 9001:2008 certified and

registered from Ministry of Health. The collaboration with

PIEAS is also part of activity. The activities of different

groups are as follows.

Molybdenum-99 Production Facility (MPF) Group

�MPF group is meeting all the current demands of

Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99m Generators in the

country as well as has acquired export potential.

1. 26-28 March, 2013, Workshop on Modelling and Simulation of Materials (Density Functional Theory) Organizer: Theoretical Plasma Physics Division and Physics Division

2. 22-26 Apr i l , 2013 , Tra in ing Course on Characterization of Advance Materials through X-ray DiffractionOrganizer: Materials Division and Physics Division

Forthcoming Scientific Events at PINSTECH

Isotope Production Division (IPD) (Directorate of Technology)Head: Dr. M. Safdar Mansur

Divisions of PINSTECH �In 2012 MPF group produced more than 460 Curies

Mo-99 with the saving of foreign exchange of Rs. 55

Million that was being spent on import from South

Africa.

Generator Production Group (GPG)

�Pakgen 99Mo/99mTc generators are weekly prepared

and dispatched to 35 Nuclear Medical centers in the

country. �Since 2012 these generators are being produced from

local Moly-99 production at PINSTECH of worth Rs.

119 Million.

Radiopharmaceuticals Production Group (RPG)

�Iodine-131 is being supplied weekly for thyroid cancer

patients to 16 PAEC hospital and 7 Private & Govt.

hospitals of worth Rs. 16 Million per annum.�Other Isotopes are P-32, Cr-51, Br-82, Rb-86,

La-140, Lu-177, Ho-166, Sm-153, Y-90, etc are also

supplied to medical centers and IAD. �Sodium-24 sealed sources (>100 consignments,

3500 mCi, worth Rs. 100 Million) have been supplied. �In-vivo diagnostic Kits such as MIBI, DTPA, MAG-3,

DMSA, DISIDA, HMPAO, MDP, Phytate, etc. for

imaging purpose and Adenosine injection (of worth

Rs. 16 million per year) have been supplied to

hospitals.�The synthesis of precursor MAG-3 and DISIDA in the

laboratory is also the activity of RPG.

Engineering Group (EG)

�EG provides services and maintenance support to IPD

production cells.�It is also responsible for packaging, dispatch of various

products, billing to various hospitals, record keeping,

leak test of targets for PARR-1 and fabrication of

sealed sources.

1. Ms. Sumaira Naz, SS, MD (started Ph.D at PIEAS)2. Mr. M. Kashif, SS, MIS (started Ph.D at Germany)3. Twenty Scientist/Engineers participated in local

Training/Conferences/Workshops, etc.4. Twenty students joined PINSTECH for research work.

Training Activities during Jan Feb, 2013