Lahore: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has inaugurated a new Center of Excellence for Research, Development, and Training (CERDT) at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore. This initiative, funded under PPL's Corporate Social Responsibility program, aims to enhance technical expertise and research capabilities in Pakistan's oil and gas sector.

Imran Abbasy, Managing Director and CEO of PPL, officiated the inauguration ceremony. He was joined by Professor Dr. Shahid Munir, Vice Chancellor of UET Lahore, alongside other senior officials and industry representatives. The ceremony was attended by notable figures such as the Chairman of the Pakistan Engineering Council and the Chairman of the Pakistan Chemistry Council.

The audience acknowledged PPL's efforts in fostering research and development opportunities for students. The CERDT has been established with a PKR 51.1 million grant from PPL, covering the period from 2022 to 2025. The funding facilitated the construction and equipping of the center with state-of-the-art simulation and laboratory tools.

Mr. Abbasy highlighted PPL's dedication to social investment and human resource development. He stated, "As one of the largest corporate donors in Pakistan, contributing over PKR 3.5 billion annually, PPL is committed to fostering innovation through academia-industry synergies." He emphasized that the initiative will create significant opportunities for research and training within Pakistan.

The CERDT is the first center of its kind in the country's petroleum sector. It is designed to offer free technical training to PPL staff and other industry professionals, undertake applied research projects in exploration and production, and host national and international conferences. Additionally, the center will support in-house research and development projects.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Shahid Munir expressed UET's dedication to integrating academic excellence with industry needs. He noted that the establishment of CERDT represents a significant step in preparing professionals with practical expertise.

The inauguration of the CERDT is seen as a crucial development in building a skilled workforce and enhancing Pakistan's capabilities in energy innovation and sustainable development.