It is a matter of honor for COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus in general and the Department of Environmental Sciences in particular that a working Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed on 31.01.2023 (Tuesday) at 3:00 pm – through Industry-Academia Liaison Committee (IALC) – amongst Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zone Development & Management Company (KPEZDMC) Peshawar, Hattar Industrialists Association (HIA) Haripur, and CUI-ATD Campus. The signing ceremony was held in the HIA office, Hattar. The Director COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus Prof. Dr. Mohammad Maroof Shah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) KPEZDMC Peshawar Mr. Javed Iqbal Khattak and Senior Vice Chairman HIA Mr. M. Atta-ur-Rehman signed the document as the representatives of participating organizations.

The purpose of the MoU is to establish a working relationship and undertake certain commitments and operations related to environmental issues. Areas of the collaboration include solutions to the current and future environmental problems on solid as well as liquid waste management; and integration of the scientific work of academia for the provision of leadership in addressing the emerging environmental issues and in advancing the science and technology for risk assessment and pollution management.

The parties recognize the importance of collaboration to serve the needs of society through capacity building on solid waste disposal, management and recycling, wastewater and its treatment, water reusability in the marble industry (reuse of effluents from the marble industry), treatment issues of solid and liquid wastes in dispersed industrial zones, design of sewerage system and treatment capacity in new economic zones. The active participation in this MoU from contributing organizations will be a source of motivation, particularly for CUI students. Representatives of the parties will jointly search and select suitable land for the purpose of initial public dumping in Hattar Economic Zone, Haripur.

The Department of Environmental Sciences is thankful to the Director Prof. Dr. Mohammad Maroof Shah and Industry Liaison Officer Mr. Sajid Naeem for their support and cooperation.