Key points
- Banana waste converted into natural fibre
- DNFI honour received in Germany
- Project attracts European industrial interest
- Innovation offers environmental, economic benefits
ISLAMABAD: A student from Balochistan has won international recognition for developing an innovative and environmentally sustainable method of producing natural fibre from banana waste.
Mohammad Sarfraz, a student at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), received the prestigious Discover Natural Fibre Initiative (DNFI) Award during a global research competition held alongside the Heimtextil exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany.
The competition attracted participation from more than 100 research institutions, companies and educational organisations worldwide. Sarfraz’s project focuses on converting banana stems, which are typically discarded as agricultural waste, into high-quality natural fibre for use in textiles and handicrafts.
Receiving the award
Speaking after receiving the award, Sarfraz said he spent four years refining the fibre extraction process to ensure it was both environmentally sustainable and economically viable. He dedicated the achievement to his teachers and the youth of Balochistan, saying it demonstrated that talent from underrepresented regions could compete globally.
Dr Mohammad Qasim, head of the Textile Engineering Department at BUITEMS and Sarfraz’s supervisor, said the recognition highlighted the potential of Pakistani students to contribute to global innovation with the right support.
The project has attracted industrial interest, with a partnership agreement already signed with a German company to manufacture and market banana fibre products in Europe. Fibre production has begun in parts of Sindh and Balochistan, with plans to expand to thousands of households.
Experts say the innovation could reduce environmental pollution while creating new economic opportunities across Pakistan.
