PMDFC Plans Eco-Friendly Wastewater Treatment Research in Collaboration with UET-Lahore: UNICEF to Be Approached for Funding Support
The Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) is planning to initiate innovative research projects aimed at promoting natural and eco-friendly wastewater treatment solutions in Punjab. In this regard, a meeting was held between Syed Zahid Aziz, MD PMDFC, and Prof. Dr. Aneela Anwar, Head of the Advanced Nanotechnology Research Group, University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore.
The proposed research builds upon PMDFC’s ongoing work on floating wetlands for wastewater ponds, focusing on sustainable, low-cost, and nature-based treatment methods to improve water quality and environmental outcomes. Two pilot research projects, with a combined proposed budget of PKR 20 million, were discussed during the meeting.
Under the first project, titled “Bacterial Dosing System for Wastewater Treatment Pond (Punjab)”, PMDFC plans to introduce a targeted bacterial dosing mechanism to enhance the biodegradation of organic pollutants in a wastewater pond. The project aims to identify and culture pollutant-specific bacteria and deploy an automated dosing system to improve treatment efficiency. Regular monitoring of water quality parameters, including Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), pH, and nutrient levels, will be conducted. The project is expected to achieve a 20 to 30 percent reduction in BOD and COD, improving wastewater quality for potential reuse in irrigation.
The second proposed project, “Floating TiO₂/ZnO Nanocomposite System for Hadiara Drain”, focuses on the use of floating nanocomposite mats to photocatalytically degrade industrial pollutants such as dyes and phenols under natural sunlight. The system involves synthesizing and immobilizing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanocomposites on floating structures, which will be deployed in the Hadiara Drain. The project aims to achieve a 20 to 30 percent reduction in targeted pollutants and generate technical data to support future scaling and optimization.
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Zahid Aziz emphasized PMDFC’s commitment to promoting climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable urban infrastructure solutions. He highlighted the importance of collaboration with academic and research institutions to develop innovative alternatives to conventional wastewater treatment systems. He further added that engaging development partners such as UNICEF, which has a proven track record in funding nature-based solutions like floating wetlands, would further strengthen the impact and scalability of these initiatives.
Prof. Dr. Aneela Anwar appreciated PMDFC’s initiative and reaffirmed UET-Lahore’s support in providing scientific expertise, laboratory research, and field monitoring to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed projects.
The proposed research initiatives are expected to provide valuable evidence for the application of nature-based and floating treatment systems across urban wastewater ponds and drains in Punjab, supporting improved environmental management and sustainable reuse of water resources.
