The regional training course on modern mutation breeding techniques concluded at the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) in Islamabad on 19 October 2025, reinforcing Pakistan’s role in regional capacity building. Held under IAEA technical cooperation project RAS5101 from 6 to 19 October, the course focused on improving food quality through advanced mutation breeding methods.
Thirty participants from 14 IAEA member states including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam took part alongside Pakistani delegates. Two IAEA experts from China and Bulgaria joined the programme, sharing technical knowledge and practical guidance on mutation breeding applications.
Professor Dr Muhammad Yousaf Saleem, Director General Agriculture and Biotechnology at PAEC, congratulated NIAB and the IAEA on the course’s success and highlighted the importance of mutation breeding to address climate change, food shortages, water scarcity, pollution and emerging pathogens. He noted Pakistan’s growing population and stressed that regional cooperation is essential to mitigate these challenges while aligning research with global food and safety standards through bodies like the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Dr Azma Maqbool, Director NIAB, described the training as an effective forum for knowledge exchange and said long-standing collaboration between NIAB and the IAEA is yielding tangible benefits for the region. Dr Ziaul Qamar, course director at NIAB, thanked participants and said the course enhanced technical skills and laid foundations for future collaboration.
Dr Kai Wang, an IAEA expert from China, praised Pakistan’s contributions to regional capacity building. The programme combined interactive sessions, laboratory demonstrations and field visits, giving participants hands-on experience in mutation breeding techniques for crop improvement and nutritional quality.
NIAB, designated as an IAEA Collaborating Centre, continues to apply nuclear technology in crop improvement, soil management and plant nutrition. This was the third regional training course hosted at NIAB in 2025 under the Government of Pakistan and PAEC, reflecting sustained commitment to agricultural research and regional cooperation in mutation breeding.
