Government College University (GCU), Lahore signed a collaborative research project with Bartin University on Monday, for the cost effective production of bioethanol. Turkish Council General Emir Ozbey chaired the launching ceremony and awareness seminar of the research project at GCU’s Bukhari Auditorium. The research project, to be funded by the Higher Education Commission and Council of Higher Education, Turkey, also included PhD students exchange programme between both the universities. Addressing the ceremony, Bartin University Science Department Dean Professor Dr Ahmet Karada said that Turkey and Pakistan were currently importing 95 percent of their energy requirement and had not yet put full efforts in the production of more sustainable energy. “Turkey is far behind in the world ranking for bioethanol production which is one the most important renewable energy sources,” he added. Professor Dr Ahmet Karada, who is the principal investigator of the research project from Turkey, said that the project aimed to introduce a more economic and efficient way of producing bioethanol, which was an alternative eco-friendly strategic energy source with high combustion efficiency. “The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a process for fourth generation bioethanol production both in Turkey and Pakistan,” he concluded. Council General Emir Ozbey laid stress on more research collaborations between Pakistani and Turkish universities, saying that both the friendly countries were facing similar problems and scientists of both countries should join hands in solving them. He congratulated the principal investigators of the project for securing a three-year research grant. GCU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Hassan Amir Shah said that Pakistan was facing severe energy crisis and it needed to move forward quickly to find a quick replacement of fossil fuels. He sincerely hoped that the successful completion of this project would contribute greatly to the economies of both countries. Project’s principal investigator from Pakistan Dr M Nauman Aftab said solar and wind energy projects were not feasible for a country like Pakistan because they required huge investments for heavy installations and huge storage devises. “So, it’s high time that we must pay serious attention on mass scale production of renewable energy in the form of biofuel,” added. Sharing details of the project, Dr M Nauman Aftab said cellulase enzymes would be used to target the cellulose and hemicellulose component of hazelnut and other Turkish plants. The cellulosic mass will in turn be converted into sugars that will finally be converted into bioethanol. Dr Nauman Aftab said that this project was for three years and each year, one PhD student of GCU would go to Bartin University for a period of two months. “Similarly, three PhD students from Bartin University will also come to GCU in three years,” he concluded. GCU Professor Dr Ikramul Haq also addressed of the project launching ceremony. Published in Daily Times, October 23rd 2018.