Dawood University secures 1st place in Engro Thar Power Project Competition
Our Correspondent
KARACHI: Dawood University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) has achieved a significant milestone by securing 1st position in its industrial project “Sustainable Utilization of Coal Ash Waste for Paver Blocks M30” in national level competition “Innovative Bioproduct Solutions – An Industry-Academia Collaboration” organized by Engro Powergen Thar (Pvt.) Ltd. in collaboration with HUBCO and Lucky Electric Power Company.
The competition was initiated between several universities to develop the best technically and commercially viable solution to utilize Ash produced from local Thar coal.
Prominent universities, including GIK, LUMS, MUET, NED, and DUET participated in the event, which was held at Karachi School of Business & Leadership on 30th October, 2024. The DUET’s Department of Chemical Engineering clinched the top spot, earning a cash prize of PKR 2 million for their outstanding project, which set new standards for environmentally sustainable solutions in construction sector.
The winning project was accomplished by a team of 2020 batch students: Muhammad Rafay, Arun Kumar, Iqra Wahid and Muhammad Umar. The project was completed under the supervision of Dr Abdul Fatah Soomro and his team, including Dr Abdul Karim Shah and Dr Ruhal Pervez Memon.
The project proposed a practical solution for the utilization of coal fly ash (CFA) in paver blocks manufacturing. Cement replacement with CFA, the optimal replacement of cement with CFA is 40% with 22% greater compressive strength than the control concrete, and the cost is decreased by 25% and also reduced the carbon emissions by 35% as compared with 100% cement-based paver blocks. Their collaborative efforts reflect DUET’s commitment to bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industry demands.
In recognition of their achievement, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Samreen Hussain (T.I) invited the winning students and their supervisors for a congratulatory meeting at the Vice Chancellor secretariat. She applauded their dedication and hard work, emphasizing the importance of such industry-linked projects in nurturing future innovators.
To mark the occasion, a cake-cutting ceremony was held at the secretariat, attended by Prof Dr Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry along with DUET faculty members. The vice chancellor expressed her pride in the students and faculty, stating, “This victory is a testament to DUET’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and impactful collaboration with industry partners. Our students have demonstrated their ability to solve real-world challenges, paving the way for a brighter future.”
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