Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh delivered a presentation “Nano-Fertilizers and Nano-Clay Solutions for Crop Yield Enhancement and Arid Land Irrigation,” highlighted the role of nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture, advanced nano-fertilizer formulations, and nano-clay technologies.
Faculty of Science & Technology participated in the Pakistan Chemical Forum Conferences & Seminars, where faculty, ORIC staff, and students from the Department of Basic & Applied Chemistry promoted academic programs, research culture, and facilities while engaging with students and professionals nationwide. The campaign was represented by Dr. Muhammad Perviaz, Dr. Muhammad Riaz, Dr. Muhammad Afzal, and ORIC members, including Dr. Faiza Anum and Mr. Abdul Rahim. During the event, Dr. Muhammad Perviaz was also invited as a speaker and presented his research titled “Development of a Novel Cooling & Cleaning Paint for Climate Change,” highlighting innovative climate-responsive solutions, for which he received a souvenir and certificate of appreciation from Bin Rasheed and B2B representatives.
The University of Central Punjab (UCP) proudly secured 3rd Position at the M.A. Raoof Innovation Startup Expo 2026, organized by the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lahore (UOL). The UCP team received a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 for their outstanding project titled “OSAI”, an e-commerce platform developed for sustainable products under the Innovative Product/Prototype Poster category. This winning project was presented by students from the Faculty of Media and Mass Communication (FMMC) under the supervision of Dr. Sadaf Zahra (FMMC).
The award was presented by Mr. Uzair Raoof, Deputy Chairman, UOL, and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Rector, UOL, in recognition of the team’s innovative contribution towards sustainable development and entrepreneurship.
In addition to the award-winning project, final year students from UCP also showcased multiple innovative projects reflecting research excellence, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Other participating projects were supervised by Dr. Muhammad Zaman (FOPS), Dr. Huma Hameed, Ms. Tooba Mehboob, Ms. Sadia Zia and Ms. Izza Tariq, whose mentorship played an important role in guiding students throughout the competition.
This achievement highlights UCP’s growing commitment to industry-relevant research, innovation, and commercialization-focused academic activities.
Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization organized a workshop to equip participants with computational skills in rational protein engineering and enzyme design using AI-assisted methods for applications in biotechnology, drug discovery, and synthetic biology. The training was conducted by Dr. Sumera Zaib, Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology, with participation from students and researchers. The session included hands-on activities such as sequence retrieval and analysis, physicochemical assessment, structure prediction, pocket mapping, sequence design, mutational analysis, and codon optimization.
Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization’s Product and Prototypes Display at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry displayed over 65 products and prototypes developed by faculty and students. The exhibition covered engineering, food and pharmaceutical sciences, computing, biotechnology, sustainability, space science, media, and social entrepreneurship. Organized with the support of LCCI President Faheem ur Rehman Saigol and in collaboration with Convener Umer Saleem and office bearers, the event brought together industry representatives who engaged with student innovators on market compatibility, pricing, product positioning, and commercialization. Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat and PHEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan attended the event and acknowledged the role of university leadership, including Pro Rector Dr. Hammad Naveed and ORIC Director Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, in promoting research and industry linkage.
The Department of Basic & Applied Chemistry at the University Of Central Punjab (UCP) participated in the Pakistan Chemical Forum held from 23rd to 25th April 2026 at the International Expo Centre, Lahore. This participation was coordinated by the Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (UCP ORIC).
During the event, BS and M.Phil. students competed in a national poster competition and secured the Silver Position for their scientific research. The UCP delegation, which included faculty members Dr. Muhammad Perviaz, Dr. Muhammad Riaz, and Dr. Muhammad Afzal, along with ORIC staff Dr. Faiza Anum and Mr. Malik Abdul Rahim, also conducted an admission campaign to showcase the department’s academic programs and research facilities
The Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC), University of Central Punjab, successfully organized a Hands-On Perfume & Scent Making Workshop on 14 January, 2026 at the Biochemistry Lab, B-Building, UCP.
The workshop aimed to equip participants with practical skills in fragrance formulation along with essential knowledge of branding, marketing, and commercialization. The session received enthusiastic participation from students, young researchers, and aspiring entrepreneurs, reflecting strong interest in innovation-driven business opportunities.
The training was conducted by:
Participants received hands-on exposure to:
The session concluded with a Certificate Distribution Ceremony, where certificates were distributed by the Director ORIC, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, who appreciated the participants’ enthusiasm and emphasized ORIC-UCP’s continued commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry-linked capacity-building initiatives.
The workshop was successfully coordinated and managed by Ms. Nagina Rafiq Research Associate, ORIC-UCP
ORIC-UCP remains dedicated to empowering students and professionals through impactful trainings and collaborative platforms.
The Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) and the Faculty of Science and Technology (FOST) successfully organized a seminar titled “Smog Pollution in Lahore: Causes, Consequences, and Control (From Sampling to Solutions)” on 15 January, 2026, at University of Central Punjab, Lahore.
The guest speaker, Dr. Haider A. Khwaja, an Associate Professor at Department of Environmental Health Sciences from the University at Albany, USA, shared expert insights into the environmental challenges of smog. The discussion moved from scientific sampling to practical solutions, highlighting the university’s commitment to addressing local environmental issues under the joint project started in 2023 between University at Albany, USA and UCP, Lahore. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh and Dr. Haider A. Khwaja are principal investigators of the joint project.
The session was honored by the presence of the Pro-Rector, Dr. Hammad Naveed, who graced the event along with Prof. Dr. Hafiza Rizwana Kausar (Dean, FOST), Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh (Director ORIC), Representative from EPA, HODs, Faculty Members and Students. Dr. Hammad Naveed provided the closing remarks for the session. The seminar received an overwhelming response with around 145 registered participants, leading to a house-full venue.
The Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC), University of Central Punjab, successfully organized a Smart Organic Soap Formulation Workshop on 22 December 2025 at the Biochemistry Lab, B-Building, UCP. The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation of over 65 students and professionals from UCP and several external institutions, highlighting its interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral outreach.
The workshop was conducted by Dr. Sadia Zulfiqar (Faculty of Science & Technology, UCP), who delivered comprehensive hands-on training on whitening, anti-acne, and glow booster organic soap formulations, along with quality testing and packaging techniques.
The session concluded with a Certificate Distribution Ceremony, where certificates were awarded to all participants by the Director ORIC, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh. During his address, he highlighted the role of ORIC-UCP in promoting research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building through regular trainings, workshops, and industry-linked initiatives, and encouraged participants to actively engage with ORIC platforms to transform innovative ideas into impactful products and startups.
The workshop was successfully coordinated and managed by Ms. Nagina Rafiq, Research Associate, ORIC-UCP
The Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC), University of Central Punjab, successfully concluded the two-day Business Model Design and Product Commercialization Workshop on 12 December 2025.
On Day 2, Dr. Amina Rizwan delivered advanced sessions on product pricing, financial feasibility, commercialization pathways, go-to-market strategies, pitching, negotiation, and industry collaboration. Participants took part in mock pitching exercises and practical discussions on scaling startups within the local business ecosystem.
Key outcomes of the workshop included:
The workshop concluded with an interactive Q&A session, followed by appreciation of participant engagement and learning outcomes. Certificates of Participation were awarded to all attendees.
ORIC remains committed to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization culture at UCP through such impactful capacity-building initiatives.
