Rawalpindi - The first integrated waste management station was inaugurated at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) yesterday.

The state-of-the-art treatment facility is based on the mechanical and biological treatment process of solid waste with proper segregation, recovery of recyclables completed in two and a half months at a cost of Rs 0.5 million. The station was formally inaugurated by Punjab Secretary Agriculture Muhammad Mahmood. Prof Dr Rai Niaz Ahmad Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR, faculty members, staff and students were also present on the occasion.

This is the fully integrated waste management facility being not only the first one in the educational institutes but also in the country, designed and executed by PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rai Niaz Ahmad and Dr Ghulam Jillani.

The key features of this recently developed station are to transform decomposable waste into compost for organic agriculture and bio-gas which can provide safe and healthy food to the community. This station also has the arrangement for food waste drying from poultry feed, and water heating through incineration of combustible waste. In future university is also planning to generate electricity through steam boiler to be installed here.

Secretary Muhammad Mahmood while visiting the station said that solid waste if handled properly would maintain the natural balance of essential elements and thereby promote more harvest from nature. He said that people must realize that the waste which they throw in the streets are not actually waste it is the raw material for some other products.

 He appreciated the efforts of PMAS-AAUR for establishing solid waste management station and recommended that it should be promoted by increasing public awareness and integrating the informal sector to make the current system sustainable and financially viable.

Earlier, Dr Niaz Ahmad briefed the chief guest about the aims and objectives for the establishment of this station. He said that solid waste is collected from the campus and recycled into useful/beneficial products without any sort of pollution. He informed that this centre will also act as a learning centre to create awareness about the positive environment impact of the solid waste treatment facility in the country.