From Waste to Worth:
How Texitech is Supporting Pakistan's Next Generation of Innovators
At Texitech, we have always believed that technology and innovation go hand in hand. Supporting ideas, whether in business or science, is part of who we are. Earlier this year, that belief took a meaningful form at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, where the “Pitch to Win: Transforming Scientists into Entrepreneurs” competition brought together some of Pakistan’s most promising young researchers. Texitech was proud to sponsor the Texitech Best Pitch Award at this event, and the winning team more than earned it.
Meet the Winners: Team Larvecta
The Texitech Best Pitch Award was presented to a team of three students whose project, “Larvecta: Waste to Worth” , stood out for its creativity, scientific rigour, and real-world relevance.
The winning team:
- Mr. Wahid Ullah — ICCBS, University of Karachi
- Ms. Anabia Siddiqui — Department of Biotechnology, University of Karachi
- Ms. Sarah Zafar — Department of Biotechnology, University of Karachi
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, Director of ICCBS, personally congratulated the students on their achievement.
Our Contribution , Their Changes
The Problem They Set Out to Solve
Karachi generates over 12,000 tons of solid waste every single day. A large portion of this is organic leftover food from homes, markets, hotels, and restaurants, which ends up in already overcrowded landfills like Jam Chakro and Gond Pass. There, it decomposes in the open, producing harmful gases, damaging soil and groundwater, and creating serious public health concerns. It is a problem that demands practical, scalable solutions. Team Larvecta proposed exactly that.
The Solution: Nature as the Answer
Rather than relying on expensive or imported technology, the students proposed an approach that works with nature. Their method uses the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly to convert urban organic waste into three valuable outputs:
- Protein rich animal feed — reducing dependence on costly imported feed for livestock and poultry
- Organic bio fertiliser (frass) — a natural soil enricher that improves agricultural productivity
- Valuable biochemical compounds — with broader applications in various industries
The process involves no genetic modification and poses no disease risk. It is already being successfully implemented in several countries across Asia and Africa, and the team demonstrated that Karachi, with its enormous waste challenge is well positioned to benefit from this approach at scale. Their message was clear: Karachi’s waste crisis does not require expensive solutions from abroad. The answers can be found locally, by working intelligently with what already exists.
Why This Matters to Texitech
Texitech has spent over 30 years helping organisations across Pakistan work smarter, operate more efficiently, and build for the future. We are a technology company but our purpose has always been broader than products. It is about progress. The Texitech Best Pitch Award was established by Dr Amtul and sponsored by Mr Sohail-ur-Rahman, CEO of Texitech Pakistan; a reflection of his personal belief that businesses have a responsibility to invest in the country’s talent and future. For Mr Sohail-ur-Rahman, supporting young researchers who are tackling real problems is not a gesture; it is a conviction that has shaped Texitech’s values since its founding. Sponsoring initiatives like this competition reflects that conviction. When young researchers are given a platform to develop ideas that address real challenges, everyone benefits: businesses, institutions, communities, and the country. The award was created with a simple intent: to recognise and encourage problem-solvers. Team Larvecta embodied that spirit completely.
A Shared Vision
The ICCBS “Pitch to Win” competition was designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and entrepreneurship. A gap that Pakistan urgently needs to close. Events like these are where future solutions are born. Texitech is proud to play a part in that journey. We congratulate Mr. Wahid Ullah, Ms. Anabia Siddiqui, and Ms. Sarah Zafar on a well deserved recognition, and we look forward to seeing where their work takes them.
Texitech is a leading technology solutions provider based in Karachi, Pakistan. For over 30 years, we have partnered with organisations across industries to drive productivity, efficiency, and digital transformation. To learn more about our work and values, visit www.texitech.com.