UOL Governance

Mr. M.A. Raoof Patron BoT

Mr. Awais Raoof Chairman BoG

Mr. Uzair Raoof Deputy Chairman BoG

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Rector

Mr. Nasir Mahmood COO & Pro-Rector Academics

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sarwar Pro-Rector Sargodha

Ms. Wajeeha Raoof Pro-Rector, QEC

Prof. Dr. Rabeeya Raoof Pro-Rector Examination/Dean MS

Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Dean, Allied Health Sciences

Prof. Dr. Moghees Ahmed Baig Dean, Medicine and Dentistry

Prof. Dr. Rabia Akhtar Dean, Social Sciences

Prof. Dr. Khalid Hussain Dean, Pharmacy

Dr. Ibrar Hussain Dean, Information Technology

Dr. Asghar Nadeem Syed Dean, Languages

Prof. Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman Dean, Engineering & Technology

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Bilal Waqar Dean, Sciences

Mr. Justice (R) Muhammad Bilal Khan Dean, Law

Ms. Ammara Awais Dean, Student Affairs

Prof. Dr. Mahwish Arooj Principal, UCM

Ms. Shahnaz Raoof Director HLMC

Mr. Muhammad Ashraf Director Admission

Ms. Sameeya Raoof Director, Overseas Students

Mr. Syed Faizan Haider Director, QEC

Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Director, ORIC

Mr. Ali Aslam Registrar

Mr. Asim Ali Controller of Examination

Ms. Nida Javaid Manager HR

Mr. Rashid Shuja Butt CFO

Academic

Administrative

Name

Ms. Sadia Saddique

Lecturer
Optometry and Vision Sciences

Mr. Muhammad Najaf

Lecturer
Software Engineering

Ms. Madiha Awais

Lecturer (Mgr Social Media Management)
Lahore Business School

Dr. Mehreen Fatima

Asst. Prof. (Mgr Research Projects & Grants)
Lahore Business School

Ms. Izza Aslam

Lecturer (Copy Editor LBS)
Lahore Business School

Dr. Humayun Sattar

Professor of Practice (Head QEC-LBS)
Lahore Business School

Mr. Asif Niaz

Lecturer
Lahore Business School

Dr. Muhammad Shahid

Assistant Professor
Lahore Business School

Dr. Muhammad Ahad

Lecturer
Lahore Business School

Dr. Hasnain Naqvi

Associate Professor
Lahore Business School

Mr. M. Zaigham Daud

Program Coordinator
The Innovation Hub

Ms. Seerat-e-Fatima

Lecturer
Medical Lab Technology

Ms. Bushra

Admin Officer
Mathematics and Statistics

Dr. Sarfaraz Zaman

Assistant Professor
Lahore Business School

Ms. Iqra Abdul Rasool

Lecturer
Lahore Business School

Mr. Muhammad Musab Mumtaz

Lecturer
Lahore Business School

Mr. Muhammad Noman Rafique

Demonstrator
Health Professional Technologies

Ms. Rafia Ali

Demonstrator
Health Professional Technologies

Mr. Saqib Hussain Dar

Demonstrator
Health Professional Technologies

Mr. Farhan Zia

Demonstrator
Health Professional Technologies

Ms. Aqsa Khalid

Lecturer
English Language and Literature

Dr. Shafaq Fayyaz

Assistant Professor
English Language and Literature

Ms. Asra Khan

Demonstrator
Emerging Allied Health Technologies

Ms. Syeda Eesha Fatima

Demonstrator
Emerging Allied Health Technologies

Ms. Rabbia Irshad

Demonstrator
Emerging Allied Health Technologies

Dr. Mahwish safder

Assistant Professor
Education

Dr. Gulshan Fatima Alvi

Assistant Professor
Education

Ms. Saher Ashraf

Research Associate
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Mehmood Anwar

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Imran Siddiq

Lecturer
Computer Engineering

Ms. Nain Tara Khan

Lecturer
College of Law

Ms. Urooj Bashir

Assistant Professor
College of Law

Ms. Fatima Javed

Lecturer
Behavioural Sciences

Dr. Malik Adeel Anwar

Assistant Professor
University College of Dentistry

Mr. Muhammad Faizan

Program Coordinator
Lahore Business School

Ms. Ayesha Noreen

Lecturer
Software Engineering

Ms. Faiza Khaliq

Lecturer
Software Engineering

Ms. Rabbia Nisar

Lecturer
Software Engineering

Dr. Ghufran Ullah

Assistant Professor
Software Engineering

Ms. Iqra Nazir

Demonstrator
Physical Therapy

Ms. Ayesha Ahmed

Demonstrator
Physical Therapy

Mr. Tayyaba Sattar

Demonstrator
Physical Therapy

Mr. Muhammad Usman Shafiq

Demonstrator
Physical Therapy

Ms. Somia Bakhtiar Lone

Lecturer
Health Professional Technologies

Mr. Muhammad Awais Sarwar

Admin Officer
College of Law

Mr. Ihsan Ullah Bilawal

Admin Officer
Physics

Mr. Muhammad Wasif Khan

Lab Technologist
Technology

Mr. Anas Mukhtar

Lab Technologist
Technology

Ms. Hafiza Mariyaum Mustafa

Lecturer
Technology

Ms. Areej Ikram

Lecturer
Technology

Mr. Behzad Ahmed Malkera

Lecturer
School of Integrated Social Sciences

Ms. Arfa Ghaffar

Lecturer
School of Integrated Social Sciences

Ms. Sana Alam

Lecturer
School of Integrated Social Sciences

Ms. Rida Zahid

Demonstrator
Diet and Nutritional Sciences

Ms. Kiran Mashal

Assistant Professor
Pharmacy

Mr. Safdar Hussain

Senior Admin officer
Chemistry

Dr. Zahid Ali

Assistant Professor
Chemistry

Ms. Sabiyyah Sabir

Assistant Manager Academic Projects
Strategic Projects Management (SPMO)

Mr. Asad Najeeb

Senior Manager Alumni Relations
Strategic Projects Management (SPMO)

Ms. Faiza Arshad

Lecturer
Rehabilitation Sciences

Ms. Farzana Mazhar

Clinical Coordinator
Rehabilitation Sciences

Ms. Eshah Nadeem

Demonstrator
Rehabilitation Sciences

Ms. Mehwish Rasool

Demonstrator
Rehabilitation Sciences

Ms. Amna Riaz

Demonstrator
Rehabilitation Sciences

Ms. Tayyaba Usman

Lecturer
Rehabilitation Sciences

Ms. Anum Ashraf

Assistant Professor
Rehabilitation Sciences

Ms. Hira Shafiq

Senior Lecturer
Physical Therapy

Mr. Muhammad Hassan

Admin Officer
Chemistry

Dr. Tayyab Naseer

Assistant Professor
Mathematics and Statistics

Mr. Muhammad Saifullah

Assistant Professor
Lahore School of Nursing

Mr. Haseeb Younas

Jr Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Dr. M. Nauman Aslam

Assistant Professor
Mathematics and Statistics

Dr. Tanzila Kehkashan

Lecturer
Computer Sciences (SGD)

Dr. M. Akram Naseem

Associate Prof.(Head Graduate Program)
Lahore Business School

Mr. Muhammad Azam

Messenger
Lahore Business School

Mr. Khalil Ur Rahman

Lecturer (Finance Coordinator)
Lahore Business School

Dr. Rizwan Ali

Associate Professor (Head CRE)
Lahore Business School

Dr. M. Zia Ul Haq

Lecturer (SC Mgmt. Coordinator)
Lahore Business School

Dr. Mahmood Rehmani

Associate Professor
Lahore Business School

Dr. Ghulam Farooque

Assistant Professor
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Aasim Naimat Gill

Assistant Professor (Manager MBA)
Lahore Business School

Dr. Rizwan Ali

Assoc. Prof.(BS Digital Mkt. & MS E-comm Mgr)
Lahore Business School

Mr. Muhammad Ahmad Zia

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Quratul Ain

Admin Officer
ORIC

Ms. Shaher Bano

Admin Officer
ORIC

Dr. Rukhshanda Anjum

Associate Professor
Mathematics and Statistics

Mr. Imran Hameed

Graphic Designer
ORIC

Mr. Taimoor Fiaz

Computer Operator
ORIC

Mr. Muhammad Nasar Iqbal

Lecturer
Behavioural Sciences

Mr. Imran Tareen

Senior Software Engineer
Strategic Projects Management (SPMO)

Dr. Irum Iqrar

Manager Research Journals
ORIC

Mr. Syed Atir Raza

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Usman Bin Tahir

Admin Officer
Computer Science and IT

Dr. Aasim Ali

Assistant Professor
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Mariam Mehmood

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Zainab Wajid

Jr Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Shafiq Ahmed

Ground Man
Sports and Culture

Mr. Kamran Akram

Spot Boy
Sports and Culture

Mr. Imran Ali

weight lifting coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Muhammad imran javid

Table Tennis Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Shamas Iftikhar

Karate Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Muhammad Ramzan

Hockey Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Raja zulqarnain haider

Badminton Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad

Riffle Shooting Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Sabir Farid

Judo & Ju-Jitsu Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Mujadad Awan

Fencing Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Farhan Ilyas

Athletics Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Muhammad Qayyum Changazi

Taekwondo Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Kafait Ullah

Volley Ball Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Hafeez Ur Rehman

Table Tennis Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Muhammad Afzal

Athletics Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Awais Taj

Judo Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Yasir Mehmood

Football Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Shafaqat Ali

Athletics Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Muhammad Shahid

Coach (Tug of War)
Sports and Culture

Mr. Azhar Hussain

Wushu Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Ijlal Ud Din

Archery Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Saharat Shahzad

Rowing Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Salman Butt

Head Coach Basketball
Sports and Culture

Mr. Javed amjad

Assistant Director Sports
Sports and Culture

Mr. Tufeeq Hussain

Taekwondo Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Muhammad Zahid

Chess Coach
Sports and Culture

Mr. Umar Islam

Rugby Coach
Sports and Culture

Ms. Zainab Nasrullah

Sport physiotherapist
Sports and Culture

Ms. Naina sher

Coordinator
Sports and Culture

Mr. Haris Lutaf Ullah

Jr Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Fazeel Abid

Associate Professor
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Faizan Younas

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Ahmed Faraz

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Anam Ameen

Lecturer
Lahore Business School

Ms. Nousheen Bhutta

Associate Professor
Lahore Business School

Mr. Sohaib Zulfiqar

Admin Officer
Software Engineering

Ms. Rabiya Ali

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Shazia Bashir

Sub-Editor (Urdu)
Press and Publications Cell

Mr. Muhammad Noman

Jr Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Jawad Khalid

Jr Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Muntha Amjad

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Shahrukh

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Salman Irfan

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Noor ul Ain

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Sonia Raoof

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Sadaf Masood

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mehmood

Jr Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Hassan

Jr Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Ali Ilyas

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Sajid Iqbal

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Hira Ahmed

Admin Officer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Hussnain Ayoub

Jr Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Amreen Raheem

Clinical Coordinator
Rehabilitation Sciences

Ms. Niha Rasheed

Admin Officer
School of Integrated Social Sciences

Dr. Kishwar Munir

HoD/Associate Professor
School of Integrated Social Sciences

Mr. Syed Ali Abbas

Lecturer
School of Integrated Social Sciences

Ms. Azka Tahir

Research Assistant
School of Integrated Social Sciences

Mr. Hafiz Saifullah

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Dr. Qudsia Kanwal

Associate Professor
Chemistry

Dr. Samiah Shahid

Associate Professor
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Mr. Muhammad Ahsan

Lecturer
Technology

Mr. Atif Raza

Jr Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Haroon Ghous

Professor and HOD, Urology
University College of Medicine

Ms. Zainab Ishfaq

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Hina Idrees

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Shoaib Ahmed

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Dr. Saqib Mahmood

Associate Professor
English Language and Literature

Dr. H.M. Zahid Iqbal

Associate Professor/HOD
English Language and Literature

Mr. Syed Mujtaba Hassan Rizvi

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Rimsha Anam

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Amna Hussain

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Faiez

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Sabiqa Ashraf

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Moiz Ur Rehman

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Arslan Bodla

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Murtaza Najaf

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Yasin Nasir

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Zar Bakht Imtiaz

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Temur Ul Hassan

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Hafiz Ali Younas

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Muzaffar

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Sabeen Aslam

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Nouman Ashraf

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Nayab Gull

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Sana Ullah Imtiaz

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Junaid Ali

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Hanan

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Fiaz

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Rizwan

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Waseem Asif

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Atifa Arooj

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Asif Ahsan

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Haseena Kainat

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Tahseen Fatima

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Fatima Ahmed

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Abdul Ghaffar

Principal Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Nadeem Akhtar

Senior Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Muhammad Zaman Aslam

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Ali Raza

Messenger
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Azka Aziz

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Rabia Ranjha

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Mr. Majid Hussain

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Ms. Saman Asad

Lecturer
Computer Science and IT

Achievements / Rewards

Dr Akhtar represents Pakistan, explores collaboration with Germany on global issues

Description

In a substantial ambassadorial effort, Prof Dr Rabia Akhtar (Director of the Center for Security, Strategy, and Policy Research (CSSPR)) represented Pakistan as a thought leader in a delegation of five eminent scholars from Asia. This delegation, constituted by the Asia chapter of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), visited Berlin, Germany, to engage in dialogues and meetings aimed at understanding Germany’s viewpoints on key global issues, from June 13-15, 2023.

The FES Strategic Foresight Group, comprising scholars from Pakistan, Thailand, India, South Korea, and Indonesia, sought to gain insights into Germany’s perception of the world, the interconnectedness of geopolitics and geoeconomics, and the overall security and stability of different regions. By interacting with parliamentarians, scholars, and think tank experts, the group aimed to identify Germany’s foreign policy direction amidst intensifying great power competition, technological advancements, and the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Dr Akhtar articulated Pakistan’s aspirations to become a regional and global connector, and expressed her belief that the country could serve as Germany’s partner in promoting peace. She said academic collaboration between the two countries must lay the groundwork for better ties. In that regard, she hoped that the University of Lahore (UOL) and CSSPR will like to establish linkages, to work on security and strategic issues with policymakers, universities, and think tankers in Germany.

Moreover, during the meetings with German officials and academicians, including Dr.Martin Thummel (Deputy Head for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Federal Foreign Office), Dr Akhtar along with the delegation underlined the importance of collaboration between nations in an increasingly interconnected world. It was argued that Europe and Asia should not be considered separate arenas, as common threats and opportunities necessitate a collective approach.

The participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions on how Germany’s foreign policy has evolved amid geopolitical tensions and how the country aims to strike a balance between values-based and interests-based approaches, particularly in the face of the evolving Sino-U.S. rivalry. Central to these discussions was Germany’s embrace of Zeitenwende, signifying a transformative shift in its foreign and defence policies following the war in Ukraine. German officials highlighted that this philosophy would enable their country to contribute positively to regional and global stability.

Furthermore, the delegation stressed the importance of inter-regional dialogues, trade, and economic cooperation between Germany and Asian countries during their meetings with parliamentarians. Geoeconomics emerged as a key theme, with experts acknowledging its potential to promote interdependence, peace, and stability. However, they also expressed caution, and were mindful of the geopolitical complexities that could hinder its effectiveness.

Dr Ashraf becomes Pakistan’s top and world’s 12th most cited Plant Science researcher

Description

What traits set exceptional academic leaders apart? One is their ongoing commitment to academic excellence. Prof Dr Muhammed Ashraf (Rector, UOL), in an interview with the Press and Publications Cell (PPC) of the University of Lahore (UOL), shared how his commitment to academics and research led him to stand amongst the top-cited Plant Science researchers in the world.

The second edition of Research.com rankings of the best researchers was released recently. According to these rankings, Dr Ashraf stood 12th in the list of top-cited researchers with a massive number of 72,461 citations and 1,169 publications in the field of Plant Science.

While sharing his sentiments with the PPC team, he said, “It is a great honour and privilege for me to be among the world’s top-cited Plant Science researchers. Barely people from third-world countries like Pakistan get such immense acknowledgement for research, but I, hailing from a developing country, take pride in the fact that I was able to garner the limelight along with researchers from advanced countries like America, Germany, etc.”

Motivation for Plant Science Research

For most of his academic life, Dr Ashraf has been conducting research anchored on Plant Science, his field of specialisation for which he has recently been recognised globally. Revealing his motivation behind his research drive, he mentioned that “Research is the key element for institutions and even for academicians to leave an unprecedented imprint on the global academic spectrum. The only sound way to project novel ideas pertaining to your field is through research, and that is what keeps me right on track with research. To make significant contributions to the field of Plant Science, I try to continually explore and conduct impactful research.”

Global Acclamation

In continuing the discussion of his research motivation, on a lighter note, he shared that he received a congratulatory email from Mr Rattan Laal (The Ohio State University, the United States). “To my surprise, Mr Laal, the world’s most cited researcher, shared his congratulatory remarks with me. I am humbled to the core by this global acclamation that I have received so far,” he said.

Catering to Contemporary Plant Science Issues

In every field of study, researchers try to address and explore solutions for the most pressing issues. In Plant Science and Agronomy, the focal point of researchers nowadays is the impact of climate change on plants and, broadly, on the agriculture sector. Upon being asked about the impact of his research, the UOL Rector stated that “Climate change, undoubtedly, has adversely affected the lives of plants, animals, and even humans. My focus is particularly on plants and agriculture. Through my research, I have always tried to address and highlight the pressing issues that are being faced mainly by Asian and African countries, and this is also one of the reasons that my research is getting global acknowledgement because it caters to global issues. Majorly, my work is based on different plant stresses such as drought, salinity, waterlogging, temperature extremes etc.”

Fundamentals of Research, Publications, and Rankings

Not many people are familiar with the Research.com rankings, and in fact, they lack even the most basic knowledge of research rankings. During his interview with PPC, Dr Ashraf summarised the entire research ranking process by saying that “A researcher gets ranked based on his number of publications and citations. Researchers should try to publish their work in international journals, which will increase their chances of maximum citations. The more publications and citations, the higher the H-index, and ultimately, the better the chances of getting ranked at the top.”

Tips for soon-to-be Early-career Researchers

There is no short cut to conduct profoundly organic research, and that is what Dr Ashraf said. “Dedication and hard work are the keys to achieve research goals. Nevertheless, to stand out in the pool of researchers, it is pertinent, especially for Plant Science research aspirants, to focus on technological and digital advancements, keeping oneself up-to-date with international contemporary research trends, and fuelling the urge of discovery by gaining more and more knowledge,” he advised the students.

Dr Tahir explores the role of financial risk-taking attitude in consumer satisfaction

Description

A consumer’s attitude of financial risk tolerance (FRT) plays an important role in his/her financial decisions, thereby determining his well-being. FRT is a consumer’s preference for the amount of risk he undertakes while making investments. Recently, a lot of research studies have been conducted on consumer well-being and FRT. Being motivated by this trend in financial research, Dr Muhammad Tahir (Assistant Professor, Lahore Business School, the University of Lahore (UOL)) and fellow researchers explored the relationship amongst financial literacy, propensity to plan (PTP), FRT, financial satisfaction, and life satisfaction.

Though scholarly acumen for consumer well-being is rapidly developing, not much is known regarding the collective roles of financial literacy, PTP, and FRT. Dr Tahir’s study addressed this gap by showing that financial literacy, risk-taking attitudes, and planning propensities are all interconnected and necessary ingredients to improve financial and life satisfaction.

Dr Tahir’s analytical study titled “Role of financial risk-taking attitude in personal finances and consumer satisfaction: evidence from Australia” revealed a strong partial mediation of FRT between financial literacy and financial satisfaction. Moreover, the analysis showed that a high PTP combined with a high FRT results in high financial satisfaction.

For achieving the main objective of the research, the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey was taken into consideration. Furthermore, Dr Tahir used the variance-based partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), also known as the PLS path modelling approach, to test the proposed hypotheses of the study empirically.

The findings of Dr Tahir’s research study showed the importance of creating financial plans in accordance with risk tolerance. Considering the relevance of increasing financial literacy, Dr Tahir suggested that the use of tools that could help consumers plan and spent in risky investments might lead them to have a more financial and life satisfaction.

UOL chemist explores an eco-friendly alternative thickening agent for textile printing

Description

Textile printing is the most versatile and vital methodology for introducing colour and design to textile fabrics. Different types of thickeners (chemical compounds) are used for printing, such as polysaccharide thickener, synthetic thickener, and emulsion thickener. Synthetic thickeners are highly criticised for endangering the environment at the manufacturing stages.

Dr Dure Najaf Iqbal (Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore) and her team of researchers explored an eco-friendly alternative for synthetic thickeners that is effective in the textile printing process. The team revealed that guar gum could serve as an outstanding natural thickener, stabiliser, and gelling agent and could as well be used in various industrial units, including food, cosmetics, textiles, oil fracturing, and mining. Guar gum is one of the most important naturally occurring non-ionic high molecular weight polysaccharides and consists of galactomannan, which has vast applications in various fields.

Dr Iqbal and her team synthesised carboxymethyl guar gum (CMG) via monochloroacetic acid under alkaline conditions. The carboxymethylation of guar gum was accomplished by the Willianson ether technique and the reaction conditions were optimised during the course of the experiment. Guar derivatives with variable degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The DS was determined quantitatively by the titration method for each derivative.

For this research study, native guar gum was purchased from National Guar Industries, Karachi, with a molecular weight of 1.043 106 g/mol. Whereas, all the chemicals and reagents used were of analytical grade and were purchased from Merck, Germany.

The result proved that the substituted guar gum is an eco-friendly, non-hazardous thickener as compared to synthetic thickeners. Furthermore, the penetration properties, fixation ability, and colour fastness of guar gum were compared with those of commercial alginate thickeners. The printing trial of the thickener CMG also showed that carboxymethyl guar gum could easily replace conventional thickeners without any compromise on printing results and could prevent fabric stiffness. The tested water-holding capacity (a central aspect that determines commercial applications of gums) of guar gum made it ideal for improving the texture of end products in diverse industrial formulations.

Also, it was revealed that the implementation of carboxymethyl guar gum in textile printing can reduce the economic burden associated with exporting alginate and other synthetic thickeners. This, in turn, could enable exporters to offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality.

Faculty / Staff Profiles

UOL Governance

Dr Akhtar represents Pakistan, explores collaboration with Germany on global issues

Dr Ashraf becomes Pakistan’s top and world’s 12th most cited Plant Science researcher

Dr Tahir explores the role of financial risk-taking attitude in consumer satisfaction

UOL chemist explores an eco-friendly alternative thickening agent for textile printing