SPI 2016 Press release

Department of Chemical Engineering in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Science & Technological Information Center (PASTIC), organized 3rd International Conference on Sustainability in Process Industry (SPI-2016) on 19th-20th October at UET Peshawar. The conference was aimed to provide a platform for people working in academia and industries to share their experiences and suggest indigenous solutions to the problems industrial sector is facing at the moment. Professors from USA, France and Holland presented their talks through video links and actively took part in question/answer session. Delegates from more than 40 research institutions participated in conference, these included UET Lahore, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore, Punjab University, GIKI Topi, University of Peshawar, University of Malakand, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro, University of Karachi, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, NFC Faisalabad, NUST Islamabad and PIEAS Islamabad.
Over 100 research projects were presented at conference on various themes including Energy Engineering, Water Purification, Minerals Processing, Materials Engineering, Modeling and Simulation, Health Safety and Environment and Green and Sustainable Development.
Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad, VC UET Taxila was the chief guest at opening ceremony. Prof. Dr. Noor Muhammad Dean Faculty of Engineering, UET Peshawar, Dr. Akram Shaikh DG PASTIC, Engr. Zahid Arif Vice Chairman Pakistan Engineering Council, Dr. Khizar Azam Registrar UET Peshawar, Prof. Dr. Saeed Gul Director ORIC, several faculty members and research students were also present at occasion. Dr. M. Younas, Chairman, Chemical Engineering, in his welcome address introduced the participants with the aims and objectives of conference. He emphasized the importance of University-Industry linkage for the sustainable development in society. Prof Dr. Niaz Ahmad in his address emphasized that time has come for universities to diversify non-conventional engineering programs to add value and innovation in the field. He termed universities as knowledge creating industry and stressed the researchers to carry out projects that can help industries. Dr. Akram Shaikh addressing the participants said, Pakistan has plenty of resources need to be utilized. He added, there is huge coal reserves and indigenous technologies need to be developed to use these reserves for energy generation.  Engr.  Zahid Arif, Vice Chairman PEC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the occasion stressed the need for taking projects that are practical. He urged the government to utilize maximum funds collected from the industry under R&D. He assured UET Peshawar a complete support on behalf of Pakistan Engineering Council wherever required. Prof. Dr. Noor Muhammad appreciated the efforts of Chemical Engineering Department and said that such events should be organized on a regular basis. Later, poster sessions by students and detailed lectures were held on Sustainability in Process Industry by national and foreign experts.
Recommendation and Conclusions:
The conference was concluded with recommendations to revise engineering curriculum to meet the needs of the region. It was decided to form a think tank of chemical engineers composed of distinguished profesors and experts from industry to put forward the resolve the issues of energy, water, food and climate in process industry of the region. It was also decided that chemical engineers should be ready to cope with challenges of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)  to facilitate the government and industry in providing the sustainable solutions across the region where ever industrial / societal projects are specified like industrial zones.

In his closing remarks Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Hussain congratulated organizers and said it was a matter of Pride for UET Peshawar which successfully conducted third conference of this series. Shields and certificates were distributed among the winners of poster and oral presentations.

Chemical Engineers Convention and General Body Meeting
Chemical Engineers Convention and General Body Meeting of Pakistan Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) hosted by Department of Chemical Engineering was held on 19th October at UET Peshawar. Fateha was offered for demise of Prof. Dr. A. R Saleemi who remained professor, Chairman and Dean of Chemical Engineering at UET Lahore. Chemical Engineers from around the country participated in the convention. The session was very active and chemical engineers from academia and industry took part in the discussion. The following resolutions were passed,

1. Industry should facilitate the industrial visits for students.
2. University should linked final year projects and msc research with the needs of the industry.
3. Industry should also provide paid internship to undergraduate students.
4. Curriculum of chemical engineering must be in line with the needs of industry and region where the university of situated.
5. Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad was declared as “distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering” due to his continuous efforts in chemical engineering profession and education.
6. Pakistan Engineering Council must facilitate the accreditation process under Object Based Engineering System.