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An Introduction to Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
ARTICLE (September 16 2002) : The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(PCSIR) was established in 1953 with the prime objective of setting up research establishments in various parts of the country for undertaking scientific research for the utilisation of the indigenous raw materials and also on problems faced by the country's nascent industries.
The present complexion of the PCSIR is that it has been reorganised as an Autonomous Body under Act No. XXX of 1973 with greater emphasis on industrial research oriented to the solution of important national problems.
The PCSIR autonomy is functional within the framework of two constitutional bodies created under the Act of 1973.
i. Council, the policy making body, is headed by the Chairman of PCSIR and the remaining membership thereto includes three members of PCSIR (Science, Technology, Finance), four representatives of Federal Ministries (S & T, Commerce, Industries, Production), four Directors of Industries (one from each province), three Directors of PCSIR establishments, and six representatives of industries.
ii. Governing Body, the executive arm, is headed by the Chairman of PCSIR and includes two Members (Science, Technology), one Member Finance (representative of Ministry of Finance), and Secretary of PCSIR (ex-officio).
Objectives
i. Optimum utilisation of indigenous raw material resources for the development of industrial processes.
ii. Development of technologies around local resources from bench to pilot plant stages, and leasing them out for industrial exploitation leading to import substitution and export enhancement.
iii. To conduct R&D work on problems faced by the industrial sector and maintain linkages through seminars, workshops, publications, and provision of assistance to academic institutions.
iv. To undertaken co-operative research with local and foreign R&D organisations and commerce-industrial outfits on projects of national interest.
v. Human resource development through organised training courses and diffusive on Job grooming of manpower for industry and research Centres to enlarge the science & technology based in the country.
Main Activities
The broad-based activities of the PCSIR encompass almost the entire industrial sector in the country; for the industrial units in operation have their ground-work in science and technology in which the PSIR is both prominent and all too visible an organisation on the national plan. The PCSIR being the foremost industrial R & D organisation is the largest producer of indigenous technologies in an organised fashion. The R & D projects of the PCSIR fall into two major categories:
i). Those that are sponsored or are user liked
ii). Those for which a user is likely to be available but has to be found out.
Following are some of the areas where PCSIR has strength and potential to serve the local industry provided its capabilities are augmented / enhanced by suitable inputs:
(a) Evaluation of Locally Available Raw Materials
PCSIR main thrust in the starting years was to investigate the
physico-chemical composition of the locally available raw materials Znd to find out their possible
utilisation. Out of the large number of research publications (over 3750) that PCSIR produced during the period, 70 percent relates to the evaluation of local materials. The data thus generated is the single most important contribution of the
PCSIR, which no other organisation in the country can claim. It is available in the form of research papers, technical bulletins, brochures and reports, etc. It covers the areas from minerals, ores, clays, forest produced herbs, plants to marine and animal wastes. PCSIR can undertaken survey and evaluation studies of raw materials and products on behalf of the industry.
(b) Process and Product Development
The Scientists and Technologists of PCSIR developed 647 industrial processes and products and 360 numbers of patents, mostly based on the locally available raw materials. Out of these nearly 400 processes have commercially been exploited on industrial scale. It has also executed around 50 ADP projects, which were mainly pilot plant studies, based on the data generated on the laboratory level. (for detail please Annex entitled "Achievements".
(c) Investigative Analysis and Import Substitution
A large number of formulated products are being imported at exorbitant rates resulting in the expenditure of costly foreign exchange by the textile, leather, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, household chemicals, food additives and consumer products industries in the form of emulsions, surfactants, resins, adhesives, plastic parts, perfumes, flavours and other chemical and non-chemical products. Most of these items are imported under brand names.
(d). Analytical and Testing Services
PCSIR is capable of undertaking large number of tests of raw materials and industrial products and can provide physical, chemical, chromatographic and spectroscopic analytical services in the diversified fields.
PCSIR at present is serving over 4000 SME's / clients all over the country annually in quality control, analytical and testing area.
(e) Quality Control Services to the Exporters
The major exports of Pakistan are textile, leather, food, sports and surgical goods and products, which are based on locally available raw materials. The exports are essentially made to western European countries, America and Japan. These countries are becoming more quality conscious and introducing various parameters and checks to enforce the quality of their imported products. ISO 9000 and 14000 series of standards are being brought in to monitor the desired quality. Pakistan has faced much competition in the region for exports and in order to remain competitive there is a need to educate, support and provide technical and quality control services to the producers and exporters of goods.
(f) Support to Defence Materials Production
POF and other defence establishments require large number of chemical, products, analytical and quality control services and product substitution. PCSIR has a collaborative system with POF and DGMP in the form of Strategic Chemical Committee consisting of the senior technical staff of these organisations which meet twice a year and discuss the On- going Development Programme and future requirements of the defence productions.
(g) Services to Government Departments and NGOs
Various Government departments such as Customs, Excise, Police, Administration, Health and NGO's avail the analytical testing and advisory services of PCSIR in resolving disputes, fake and genuine products categorisation investigative matters, narcotics, screening of medicines for steroids, etc.
(h) Help in Crisis Situations
Due to the availability of diverse expertise and extensive laboratory infrastructure, PCSIR enjoy the focal point in the crisis situations and its scientific and technical staff are always ready to extend to the local Administration to technical help, solve and ameliorate the situation. The major areas where PCSIR has significant contributions are:
Trouble shooting problems of the industry
Fire accidents
Poisonous gases leakage
Explosions
(i) Environment and Pollution Control
The expertise available in PCSIR in the field of Environment and Pollution Control is not only training its own S&T staff in the assessment, monitoring and control systems of air, water and soil pollution but is also helping he local industry for self-monitoring and impact assessments. It is also helping the Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development, Planning Division, Ministry of Industries in framing and implementing NEQs of air, water, industrial liquid and solid effluents and gasses emissions.
(j) ISO-9000/14000 Certification
On the introduction of the ISO-9000 series of the standards, the specified quality of the products has become a vital issue for all the companies of the country to conduct their business according to the laid down standards.
In Pakistan PCSIR is the only organisation, which is capable of doing quality management work successfully as it has all desired facilities available within its premises in each of the province of the country. PCSIR has over one hundred different types of latest equipment and highly trained manpower to test and evaluate a factory's raw materials, in process inventories, finished products and the packed products which are to be marketed. The manpower of PCSIR is also capable of doing the Environmental Impact Assessment studies in and around the vicinity a plant is operating.
(k) Workshops, Seminars, Training Programmes
PCSIR arranges seminars, workshops and training programmes in the specialised fields for the senior technical staff of the industry in order to update the knowledge of industrial workers and to teach the modern techniques, skills and latest methods for improving the quality and standards of their industrial products. (l) Pre-Feasibility, Feasibility and Techno-Economic Studies
PCSIR has experienced and trained scientific and technical manpower to undertake these studies on behalf of the industry.
(m) Rural Support Technologies
PCSIR has developed a number of technologies for the rural areas of the country including:
Improved and modified village level sugarcane crusher developed under US AID
programme.
Modified Oil Seed Expeller developed under IDRC, Canada funded project.
Development of erucic acid and glucocinolate-free rapeseeds (crucifers) under PL-480 project.
Bench Mark of Sugar Recovery from sugarcane for the farmers, project funded by
MINFAL, Government of Pakistan.
Seed Decorticating Machine.
Nut Cracking Machine - hand operated as well as power operated for Agha Khan rural support
programme.
Potable water technology.
Carpet making machine.
Household disinfectants.
Preservation of vegetables and Fruits Technologies.
(n) Major Fields Developed
The following are some of the major fields of R&D where necessary expertise, trained and experienced scientific and technical manpower and infrastructure of labs and equipment has been established which can cater to the needs of the local industry.
Major Achievements in terms of Products/ Processes:Scientists of PCSIR have done creditable job in the development of the processes and products, which have been sold or leased out to private sector. Research papers are published regularly in national and international journals of repute and patents are being registered both in Pakistan and foreign countries. PCSIR also helped in the defense needs of the country by producing strategic chemicals. The research facility has been used by many students for their
M.Sc., M.Phil. and Ph.D. research projects. New institutes have been established in latest technologies.
A) Scientific Achievements
1) Research Publications (approx): 3750
2) Patents Obtained: 360
3) Processes developed: 647
B) Human Resource Development
1) Supervisory guidance & laboratory facilities provided to: 156 Ph.Ds
2) Engineers / Technicians Produced: 272 B.E. (Industrial Electronics Engineering)
3) Diploma of Associate Engineers in: Instrument Technology: 878
Dies & Moulds Technology: 241 Optical Technology: 30 1149
4) Post Diploma Certificate in Industrial Technology: 224
5) Short Courses Certificate awarded to in Services Engineers / Technicians: 1300
Source:
http://www.brecorder.com
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