14/10/2026
FORGE 2026 International Conference Sponsored by FFC Concludes at GIK Institute with Focus on Sustainable Manufacturing and Industry–Academia Collaboration
The two-day International Conference on Future Operations for Research and Green Environment (FORGE-2026) concluded at GIK, bringing together industry leaders, international researchers, academics, and engineers to explore practical solutions for sustainable industrial development. The conference was held under the theme “Innovation, Technology & Sustainable Manufacturing" and organized by GIK's Department of Chemical Engineering in collaboration with FFC.
A major highlight was the panel discussion “Green Engineering 2035: Industry–Academia in Action,” themed “Bridging Research, Innovation, and Industry for a Sustainable Future,” moderated by Prof. Dr. Ata Ullah of PIEAS.
Chief Guest Mr. Jahangir Piracha, MD & CEO of FFC, appreciated the quality of GIK’s graduates and shared FFC’s vision for food security, decarbonization, AI-enabled operations, and efficient use of water and energy.
Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak, MD of FF Steel, offered support for research through access to industrial data and urged greater focus on electric vehicles and energy storage.
Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti, Vice Chancellor of Virtual University of Pakistan, urged industry to share real operational challenges with universities and highlighted HEC’s Professor of Practice initiative.
Rector Prof. Dr. Fazal Khalid, SI, emphasized sustained collaboration and proposed an FFC Centre for Sustainable Development at GIK, alongside making FORGE an annual conference. He thanked FFC for its sponsorship and acknowledged the organizers, speakers, and participants.
The inaugural proceedings also welcomed Prof. Dr. Naseemullah Qureshi, Vice Chancellor, University of Swabi, and Mr. Khurram Saleem of FFC. Mr. Aamer Fayyaz Ghuman, Director of Manufacturing, FFC, addressed the concluding day.
International keynotes featured Dr. Piotr Sebastian Skrzypczak (Nazarbayev University), Dr. Medhat A. Nemitallah (KFUPM), Dr. Muhammad Wakil Shahzad (Northumbria University), Dr. Petr Ashcheulov (Czech Academy of Sciences), and Dr. Atsushi Urakawa (TU Delft), covering reactor engineering, low-carbon technologies, sustainable cooling, advanced materials, and CO₂ hydrogenation.
Technical sessions and industry case studies addressed clean energy, decarbonization, process safety, AI, digital transformation, and the circular economy, with contributions from FFC, Fatima Fertilizer, Engro Fertilizers, OGDCL, and Cherat Cement. Research posters, a technology exhibition, and awards recognized innovation and encouraged new partnerships.
The conference also featured an invited talk by Dr. Uzair Khaleeq uz Zaman of PIDE, Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives.
FORGE-2026 concluded with a shared commitment to bringing academic research closer to the needs of industry.
