Civil Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore organized a one-day international seminar on “Environmental Friendly Cement-less Concrete” for Future Constructions in Pakistan: Geopolymer Concrete, A Sustainable Solution as part of an HEC-funded China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-Collaborative Research Grant to disseminate the findings of the first two years of the research project. Engineers from academia and industry, postgraduate and undergraduate students, and researchers from the University of Wollongong Australia, University of Sialkot, University of Sargodha, and NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research participated in this seminar.
The proceedings of the seminar started with the recitation of the Holy Quran and a welcome note delivered by the Chairman of Civil Engineering, Prof. Dr. Noor Muhammad Khan. The Chairman highlighted the importance of sustainable construction in Pakistan and the recent achievements of the department in the fields of teaching, research, and innovation. Moreover, the Chairman appreciated the efforts of Dr. Qasim Shaukat Khan (Principal Investigator – PI) and Prof. Dr. Asad Ullah Qazi (Co-Principal Investigator – Co-PI) and their team in organizing the seminar for the renowned researchers, practitioners, and students to share their views. The Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqui, delivered the inaugural speech in which he emphasized the need for new construction materials and technologies in the construction industry and the importance of academia in addressing the challenges in the construction industry. The PI of CPEC-CRG, Dr. Qasim Shaukat Khan, provided details of the various completed experimental works of the project and briefed the audience about the main findings of the first two years of the project. Moreover, information about the future works to be carried out in the final year of the project was shared with the audience of the seminar. In the concluding remarks of the inaugural session, Prof. Dr. Khalid Farooq, Dean Faculty of Civil Engineering, highlighted the various sustainable development goals (SDGs) addressed by this research project. Moreover, Prof. Dr. Khalid Farooq highlighted the significance of sustainable construction materials and techniques in the construction industry. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Khalid Farooq appreciated Dr. Qasim Shaukat Khan (PI) and Prof. Dr. Asad Ullah Qazi (Co-PI) for involving 2 Ph.D. scholars, 8 M.Sc. students, and 4 Final Year Design Project students at various stages in the first two years of this research grant.
In the technical session, the key speakers Prof. Dr. Muhammad N. S. Hadi from Australia, Engr. Muhammad Numan, Assistant Director Academics, University of Sialkot, Dr. Mubashir Ajmal from University of Sargodha, Dr. Shehroze Ali from NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, and Engr. Zukhruf Ijaz from University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, highlighted the environmentally friendly nature of geopolymer concrete to address global warming and climate change. The speakers also highlighted the beneficial material and structural aspects of cement-less concrete/geopolymer concrete as an alternative to ordinary Portland Cement Concrete in the construction industry.
At the end of the technical session, Prof. Dr. Asad Ullah Qazi provided a brief summary of the research findings and the importance of cement-less concrete for future constructions in Pakistan. Prof. Dr. Asad Ullah Qazi applauded all the presenters for their valuable talks in the technical session of the seminar. Afterwards, the worthy Vice Chancellor of the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Prof. Dr. Nasir Hayat, Dean Faculty of Civil Engineering, Prof. Dr. Khalid Farooq, and Chairman, Prof. Dr. Noor Muhammad Khan, distributed shields amongst the PI, Co-PI, presenters, and ICE students.
