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The three-day Sindh Youth Science and Technology Festival is scheduled from November 28th to 30th at the Sindh Youth Club in Karachi.
Karachi, Sindh:
Students from across Sindh have gathered in Karachi to display their innovative projects at the three-day Youth Science and Technology Festival, which features everything from robots and green energy solutions to insects capable of breaking down garbage.
The event was inaugurated on Friday by Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, the Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs. Over 70 students representing around 40 institutions are presenting their projects, with prize money exceeding 200,000 rupees allocated for the top entries—100,000 rupees for first place.
Mahar explained that a panel of professors, specialists, and industry professionals has been assembled to assess each project with fairness and technical rigor, ensuring transparent evaluation and high standards.
During my conversations with students yesterday, nearly everyone mentioned that their projects were the result of months—sometimes up to a year—of research and hard work. The event hosts over 50 booths, with some students sharing their displays. While it’s impossible to detail every project, here are some of the most innovative ones on display.
Garbage-Disposal Larvae
A team from SST Public School in Rashidabad presented black soldier fly larvae and mealworms designed to decompose waste at minimal cost, according to students Ravi and Sidra.
“These are zero-cost,” explained Dr. Maleeha Jamil, noting that these insects produce numerous offspring simultaneously, making them an effective waste management method. She added that the larvae and mealworms can consume biowaste and even plastics, though only biowaste was shown during the demonstration.
I recorded a video of the pupae and larvae—viewer discretion advised for those squeamish about insects.
Many might assume that feeding so many larvae would attract swarms of beetles and flies around waste sites. However, the students have a solution: “These larvae are about 60% protein,” Sidra said, suggesting they could serve as animal feed. Experiments adding them to chicken and fish feed resulted in larger eggs and bigger fish with higher Omega-3 levels.
Further testing is needed to understand any possible health impacts or unforeseen side effects, as well as to quantify the actual benefits of incorporating these larvae into animal diets.
What struck me most was Ravi’s remark that “about 1 kilogram of larvae can eat approximately 3 kilograms of waste,” which immediately made me think of the pseudo-landfill near my house—I almost wanted to ask them for a handful right then.
Codion: The Bilingual Talking Robot
Humbal and Barirah developed Codion, an AI-powered humanoid robot capable of speech, movement, and interactive responses. Unlike the robots from big companies like Meta or Boston Dynamics, this one is a simple walking skeleton on wheels.
The robot can hold conversations, follow commands to walk or roll, speak in both English and Urdu, share information about itself, and, if connected to the internet, perform online lookups.
It can recite Urdu poetry, although I couldn’t test this due to slow internet at the venue. The programmers explained that the robot has onboard memory to answer questions, but Humbal admitted it doesn’t “know” that it’s part of a demonstration—a sign of its early development stage.
Wall-E’s Prototype Counterpart
Inspired by the beloved childhood film, this robot was created by Simrah, a student from Karachi’s Shaheed-e-Millat College for Women. It navigates using a built-in camera feed and has a compartment for large parcels on its front. The goal is to develop a robot capable of transporting, serving, and delivering items in places like airports, malls, and restaurants.
While not fully autonomous yet, it can be remotely controlled and adjust its grip and movement. However, it struggles on carpets, which the team is actively working to improve.
Autonomous Shopping Cart
From Mehran University in Khairpur, Peeryo designed a shopping cart that can follow a shopper, scan item prices, sense weight, and count the items in the cart.
“This could be a huge help for people with disabilities,” he said while demonstrating the cart’s functionality via a custom app. I tested it myself—though slow— and it managed to follow me, but it lost sight when I moved too far away.
The prototype is small and can’t carry large loads yet, but future designs will be larger to accommodate more.
Solar-Powered Wind Turbine
Yasir, Muhammad, and Arslan from the University of Larkana showcased a turbine with three flexible solar panels shaped into a helix. The model was assembled locally, with the blades imported from China.
“Combining solar and wind energy, this system can generate power simultaneously,” Yasir explained. The turbine’s unique shape allows wind to turn it from multiple angles and maximizes sunlight exposure on the panels.
Sensors measure power output, and the design allows connection to the grid or batteries. Yasir added that the near-constant movement and helix shape help protect photovoltaic cells from dust damage. The design is scalable for various sizes—suitable for rooftops or energy parks.
Biowaste Burning for Electricity
From Mehran University, Salman, Faheem, and Raheel shared a model that uses photovoltaic thermal (PVT) cells to capture energy from burning agricultural waste.
They explained that Pakistan generates around 40 million tons of agricultural waste annually, which, if burned for energy, could produce up to 15,000 MW. They proposed a plant could power around 100,000 households for three decades, using a one-time investment of approximately $1.2 million.
However, burning large quantities of biological waste can harm the environment, raising concerns about short-term benefits versus long-term ecological impacts.
Biodegradable Bandages
Nimrah, Saira, Nisha, and Sufiya from the Jinnah University for Women developed plant-based, biodegradable bandages to reduce plastic waste in marine environments. Using starch for bioplastic, okra gelatin as adhesive, and pomegranate peels as antiseptics, their design aims to produce sustainable wound coverings.
Portable Power Supply for Emergency Medical Use
Ijaz and Abdul from Indus University created a portable power system for medical equipment in ambulances, which they presented to Sindh Ambulance Rescue services.
“This system is vital if someone has a heart attack in an ambulance stuck due to heavy rain or in remote areas with no stable power,” Ijaz explained. The device can run one medical machine—like a respirator or monitor—for 18-20 hours, powered by a lithium iron phosphate battery that’s safer than lithium-ion.
It can be recharged in 1.5 hours via solar or 15 minutes from main power and weighs 13.5 kg, with transportable options like a suitcase. The system features separate control modules for user operation and remote management.
SupeRAFT: The Marine Rescue Drone
Moiz from Sir Syed University unveiled SupeRAFT, a remote-controlled rescue device capable of carrying up to 200 kg. With a 1-hour battery life, it’s designed to quickly respond to drowning victims at sea, especially where deploying human rescuers might be risky.
It has dual propulsion, radar, computer vision for precise location tracking, and underwater scanning capabilities. The prototype cost between 200,000 and 300,000 rupees.
More Innovations and Talents
The event showcased numerous other impressive projects. Indus University displayed AI-powered goggles assisting visually impaired individuals, while a team from Hamdard University introduced AI glasses paired with specialized keyboards for users with neuromuscular conditions.
Ayesha from Dow University presented dental tablets alternative to toothpaste, aiming to reduce millions of plastic tubes landfilled annually. Lahin demonstrated Velcro-based bandages designed specifically for foot ulcers common in diabetics.
This event highlights the extraordinary talent among Pakistan’s youth. The awards ceremony will be on Sunday, recognizing the top three teams among many more deserving projects.
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