LAHORE: The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has recognised the technology, developed by a scientist of the Punjab University, aimed at converting agricultural waste into chemicals important for industries.

The technology entitled, “Extraction of Lignin from Lignocellulosic Waste Material using Pyridinium Ionic Liquids” is developed by the PU Institute of Chemistry’s Assistant Professor Dr Maliha Uroos as a lead scientist. The other co-inventors are her PhD student Azmat Mehmood and collaborator Dr Nawshad Muhammad.

Dr Uroos said being an agricultural country, Pakistan produced a massive amount of waste, including wheat straw, rice husk, bagasse, which were mainly burnt that led to environmental problems in the form of smog.

She said they had developed the process through which agricultural waste could be converted into industrially important chemicals using green solvents, without heating or burning the waste.She said by the use of this process, not only the waste could be effectively utilised but it might also prove a very good way of import substitution for some useful chemicals like cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose.

Dr Uroos said the technology was developed as a part of her research project, “Technology Development Fund” granted by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan worth Rs14m.

She said her project under the HEC NRPU worth Rs7.28mwas already underway.She said the results of research work were being published in leading high impact factor international journals and her cumulative impact factor to date was 93.

VU: The Virtual University of Pakistan conducted an online admission test for students of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI).

As many as 3,000 students appeared for entrance test in 20 designated centres in the cities all over Pakistan, including Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Multan, Kohat, Wah Cantt, Swabi, Mardan, Attock and Nowshera.

Safety desks were also established at all the test centers across Pakistan. Gloves, masks and hand sanitisers were given to every student.

It was the very first GIKI admission test which was conducted online at the platform of Virtual University of Pakistan. The Virtual University rector applauded the role of Controller examination Dr. Faisal Tehseen Shah and his team for their dedication.

UMT: University of Management and Technology (UMT) President Ibrahim Hasan Murad has urged the universities to play their role in real development of Pakistan.

He said the universities should not be only the factories of awarding degrees to our youth but they should produce youngsters who can cope with the challenges of the modern world.

He said these higher education sectors needed to play their role to include Pakistan in the community of developed countries.

“No nation can progress without focusing on education as it builds nations,” he said.

Mr Murad said there was a need to raise our standard as per the latest method of education, specially technology.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2020