The award, which celebrates efforts to promote eco-friendly fibres, was presented at the global research competition held during the Home Textile International Exhibition, Heimtextil, in Frankfurt, Germany.
Over 100 research institutions, companies and educational organisations from around the world participated in the competition. Sarfraz’s achievement highlights the remarkable potential of Pakistan’s young minds, showcasing the country’s growing presence in the field of sustainable research.
Read: Pakistani home textiles draw strong buyer interest at Heimtextil 2026
Upon receiving the award, Sarfraz dedicated the recognition to his teachers and the talented youth of Balochistan. He shared with the Express that he had spent four years researching the process of producing high-quality fibre from banana stems.
The project has garnered praise on various international platforms. However, Sarfraz takes particular pride in the success of his project when compared with projects from European research institutions and developed countries.
Dr Mohammad Qasim, Head of the Department of Textile Engineering at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, and supervisor of Sarfraz’s project, emphasised that the global recognition of the research proves that the youth of Balochistan possess capabilities on a par with any other nation. He believes that with the right opportunities, Pakistan’s name can be highlighted on the global stage.
He said that this project has three stages – extraction of natural fibre from banana waste, making a composite and yarn, and then producing fabric or other products.
Mohammad Fawwad Supriya, Director of the Natural Fibre Company that provided industrial support for the project, remarked that the award is an honour for Pakistan.
He noted that European companies attending Heimtextil have shown significant interest in the project. There are plans for collaboration with a German company to manufacture and market products made from Pakistani banana waste fibre in Germany and other European countries, with a partnership agreement already in place.
Fawwad explained that the project will play a key role in reducing poverty and providing employment in the marginalised areas of Sindh and Balochistan, thereby improving the quality of life for local communities. Fibre production from banana stems has already commenced in Sukkur and Lasbela, and the next phase will involve scaling up production to include 4,000 households. For this purpose, Sarfraz has designed specialised machines locally.
He further elaborated that the cost of a unit consisting of two machines would be between Rs700,000 and Rs800,000. This unit can produce up to 1,000 kilograms of fibre per acre of banana waste. The fibre will then be used by skilled artisans in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab to craft handmade items and traditional products.
According to Fawwad, Pakistan has the potential to annually produce 500 million kilograms of natural fibre from banana waste, with an estimated global market value of $1 billion. Moreover, the production of fibre-based products could generate substantial foreign exchange earnings for the country.
Pakistan is among the largest banana-producing countries, with millions of tons of banana waste generated each year, much of which is either burnt or dumped into rivers, contributing to air and water pollution. The efforts of this Balochistan student not only promise to alleviate poverty and create economic benefits but will also play a vital role in environmental conservation.