BNU Hosts Pakistan’s First Lead Poisoning Mitigation Competition - BNU Events

With approximately 47 million children exposed to dangerous levels of lead, the competition aimed to generate actionable strategies to reduce contamination from sources such as industrial waste, unsafe paints, used batteries, polluted water supplies, and hazardous toys. The initiative highlighted the urgency of addressing environmental health through youth engagement and innovation. Under the leadership of Dr. Moeed W. Yusuf, Vice Chancellor of BNU, the competition emphasized the role of policy-driven, sustainable solutions. Students were encouraged to think critically about long-term mitigation measures and advocate for practical implementation at both local and national levels. The winning team from the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, proposed a nanosensor-driven national lead screening policy. Second place was awarded to Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad, for their AI-based approach to environmental contamination control. Third place went to BNU’s Department of Economics for their project on mitigating lead poisoning through food and farming practices. The event concluded with recognition of all participants for their creativity, commitment, and contribution to tackling a critical yet often overlooked health issue in Pakistan.