Opportunity for Young Researchers

COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus is forming a group of new scientists dedicated to delivering innovative solutions to single-use plastic challenges.

To solve the problem of single-use plastic in Pakistan, it is crucial to train high-level economists with an inclusive vision. Innovative projects of nine graduate students will be funded under Grand Chellenge Fund project No. GCF-860 for three years. These projects will deliver practical solutions to solve the growing plastic pollution problem.

Plastic pollution is a global environmental crisis that harms land and marine ecosystems. It is estimated that more than 3 million tonnes of plastic are used in Pakistan yearly. But we are struggling with how best to address this crisis.

Dr. Muhammad Khan, Principal Investigator of the GCF-860, said it is essential to understand individual behaviors and industry practices to develop meaningful solutions. Research is vital to shaping that understanding and delivering the actions that can be taken to transform those behaviors to change the tide of plastic pollution.

Research is vital to shaping our understanding of individual behaviors and industry practices causing plastic pollution and the policy actions to transform those behaviors to change the tide of plastic pollution

Dr. Muhammad Khan, Principal Investigator of the GCF-860

A dedicated team of researchers supervised by senior academics in the field will help accelerate our search for plastic solutions. Their research will be part of the holistic research agenda around managing plastic pollution. We believe that this cluster of researchers will be able to develop solutions and action plans for meeting the challenge of plastic pollution.

In terms of impact, this program will provide trained human resources in an important area of national importance. The program will also steer that trained pool of researchers towards impact research and help them find their place in the field or their role in the larger research picture.

Our researchers are working on the following projects in the years 2022-2023: 

1. Nudges to curb the single-use of plastic – Supervised by Dr. Muhammad Khan 
2. The impact of plastic bag bans on environmental quality (especially PM 2.5), the panel data analysis – Supervised by Dr. Rafi Amir Ud Din 
3. Analyzing the consumption behavior of reusable bag: An evidence from the theory of planned behavior– Supervised by Dr. Rao Muhammad Atif