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 a part of 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, post graduate and under graduate students, and researchers from 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 was delivered by the Chairman 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 a Seminar, for the renowned researchers, practitioners and students to share the views. The Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Zahid Ahmad Siddiqui delivered the inaugural speech in which he signifies the need of new construction materials and technologies in construction industry and emphasised the importance of role of academia in addressing the challenges in construction industry. The PI of CPEC-CRG, Dr. Qasim Shaukat Khan provided the 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, the 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 the 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) in 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 Silakot, 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 environmental 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 of ordinary Portland Cement Concrete in construction industry. At the end of the technical session, Prof. Dr. Asad Ullah Qazi provided the 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 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 the shields amongst the PI, Co-PI, presenters and ICE students.
