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Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, is a research and development centre functioning under the auspices of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. The project was approved by Government of Pakistan in 1967. Research activity was started in 1970 and the institute was formally inaugurated on April 6, 1972. From the outset, the mandate was to create and maintain new genetic material for sustained agriculture development and to conduct research on applied problems in the field of agriculture and biology using nuclear and other related techniques.

NIAB is located on Jhang Road, Faisalabad at a distance of 7 km from the city centre. Its laboratories and related facilities are built on an enclosed area of 60 acres (24 hectares) with an attached experimental farm having an area of 140 acres (56 hectares).

Use of ionizing radiations and radioisotopes offers an advantage over conventional techniques in agricultural and biological investigations. NIAB has facilities and expertise for utilization of nuclear and other modern techniques in agriculture and biology to solve the problems of crop production and conservation.

The institute has well-equipped laboratories having facilities such as Cobalt-60 irradiation sources (Mark-IV irradiator and Gamma Cell 220), radiation measuring instruments, amino acid analyzers, HPLC, gas chromatographs, PCR, Photo-documentation system, capillary electrophoresis, DNA sequencer, colorimeter, atomic absorption, ultra violet and infra red spectro-photometers, ICP, high speed electrophoresis, N-15 analyzer; controlled temperature ultra centrifuge, freeze drier, Cryobank, autoclaves, stereo and light microscopes with photographic facilities, laminar flow benches, biological oxidizer, ELISA readers, fibro graph, colony counter, flame photometer, incubators, fraction collectors, etc. Apart from equipment, other experimental facilities consist of plant growth chambers, green houses, cold rooms, well-equipped Integrated Pest Management (IMP) Lab., controlled temperature and humidity rooms for microorganisms, plants, insects and animals.

A well-staffed workshop, comprising shops for electronics, air conditioning, electricity, glass-blowing, carpentry and metal work is operational. In addition to maintenance and repair of equipment and fixtures, the workshop also fabricate some instruments.

The Institute is headed by a Deputy Chief Scientist/Director, who is the overall in-charge of the scientific and administrative matters. Research by various groups is conducted under four research divisions, namely Plant Breeding & Genetics, Animal Sciences, Soil & Environmental Sciences and Plant Protection..

           

    

  

 

The Institute works five days a week from Monday through Friday with Saturday and Sunday as closed days, with timings from 8 A.M. to 4.10 P.M.

The Institute is financed by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, which is under the administrative control of Federal Government. However, the operational budget is also supplemented through research grants and projects won by scientists on competitive basis from some international/national agencies.