The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) have signed an agreement to establish the Green Cycle NUST Pilot Composting Unit, an initiative aimed at improving waste management and promoting sustainable resource use on campus. The agreement, signed on October 16, 2026, provides a framework for converting organic waste generated across the university into useful compost. The project is intended to support more responsible waste handling while encouraging resource recovery and circular economy practices within the university environment. By establishing a dedicated composting facility, the two institutions aim to demonstrate how organic waste can be treated as a reusable resource rather than simply discarded.
The agreement was signed by Muhammad Ali Khan, Pro-Rector for Planning and Resources at NUST, and Saliha Tuna, Country Head of TIKA Islamabad. The signing ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Irfan Neziroglu, NUST Rector Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif and senior representatives from both institutions. Following the ceremony, the guests visited the composting plant and received a briefing on the facility and the Green Cycle initiative. The project will support the segregation and collection of organic waste from university cafeterias, hostels, landscaping activities and other suitable campus facilities. The collected material will be processed into compost for use in campus landscaping, agricultural research and educational activities. This approach can help establish a more organised process for handling biodegradable waste generated through everyday university operations.
Beyond its waste-processing function, the initiative is also designed to support research, student projects and practical training. NUST said the composting facility would serve as a “living lab,” allowing students to gain hands-on exposure to sustainable waste management. Such a facility can provide an educational setting where students explore the practical aspects of waste segregation, compost production and resource recovery alongside their academic studies. It may also create opportunities for research into organic waste management and the use of compost in landscaping and agricultural applications. However, the announcement did not specify the unit’s processing capacity, the volume of waste expected to be handled or a timeline for measuring its environmental impact. The initial focus is on establishing a practical campus-based model that connects operational waste management with learning and research.
Led by the NUST Office of Sustainability, Green Cycle forms part of the university’s efforts to promote responsible resource use and sustainable campus operations. The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12, which focuses on responsible consumption and production. NUST, which serves as the United Nations Academic Impact Global Hub Chair for SDG 12, has highlighted waste reduction and sustainability as priorities across its campus and academic activities. The partnership with TIKA also illustrates cooperation between Pakistani and Turkish institutions on an environmental initiative with practical applications. If implemented effectively, the pilot composting unit could offer lessons for managing organic waste in other institutional settings, although the announcement does not confirm plans to replicate the model elsewhere. Through Green Cycle, the two organisations are seeking to combine waste recovery, environmental awareness and academic engagement within a single campus initiative.
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