COLLEGE OF EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES University of the Punjab Lahore 54590, Pakistan DISCLAIMER All abstracts included in this Abstract Book have been incorporated as provided by their authors. The ETEES 2020 Organizing Committee takes no responsibility of plagiarism and ligitmacy of the abstract contents provided by the Authors. March 04-06, 2020 VENUES: Auditorium Law College, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore- Pakistan Organizer COLLEGE OF EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES University of the Punjab Lahore Lahore-54590, Pakistan http://www.cees.edu.pk/ E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Tel. No. +92 42 99233121-2, Fax: +92 42 99233120 About ETEES 2020 Environmental hazards have emerged as serious global challenge threatening social and economic infrastructures. Anthorpogenic activities and over exploitation of resources, over the last century, have significantly deteriorated the natural ecosystem of the earth leading to severe destruction of the environment. This has resulted in devastating environmental conditions such as desertification of cultivated lands, contamination of groundwater, silting of dams, water logging, salinity and contamination of agricultural soils. The management and maintence of environment is critically essential for human survival as well as all other forms of biodiversity. Therefore, the impending destruction of the ecological infrastructure needs urgent attention. Scienists across the globe have recognised the need and importance of saving the environment and are striving to address environmental issues in order safeguard the planet and resources. Similarly, scientists from Pakistan are also making huge efforts and contributions in combating issues of pollution and climate change in pursuit of providing a safe and healthy environment for our future generatiosn. Increased environmental degradation in Pakistan is resulting in an economic loss of over Rs. 365 billlion annually. Urbanization, industrialization and non-exponential growth in population are further aggravating the issue. Similar to other parts of the world, the current major environmental challenges in Pakistan include climate change, water scarcity, energy shortage, pollution (air, water, soil, plastic) and improper waste management, salinity and water logging, use of syntheric pesticides in agriculture practices, deforestation, excessive loss of biodiversity and many more. Addressing environmental issues at all social and economic levels is the need of the hour in achieving sound and sustainable development along with healthy environment. The College of Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES) is one the premier institutes in Pakistan covering the disciplines of Environmental Sciences, Applied Hydrology, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Gemomatics, and Occupational Health and Safety Management; offering academic degrees at graduate, post graduate and doctoral level. The CEES team is pleased to announce the 2nd International Conference on “Emerging Trends in Earth and Environmental Sciences (ETEES 2020) to be held on 4th – 6th March, 2020 in Lahore Pakistan. The main aim of the Conference is to provide a platform and create opportunities for renowned scientists, researchers and professionals from all over the world and Pakistan to share their valuable insights, research fiundings and experiences in order to collectively solve the issues of climate change and environmental degradation. The Second International Conference on "Emerging Trends in Earth and Environmental Sciences" [2020] is organized by College of Earth & Environmental Sciences (CEES), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, to provide a knowledge exchange platform for Researchers, Engineers, Academicians, Planners and key environmental stakeholders of Pakistan. Participants from different fields of science can benefit by actively participating in the discussion and exchange of latest research interventions and problem solving techniques. It is anticipated that over 200 participants from Pakistan and more than 10 delegates across the globe will attend the thought provoking keynote lectures and oral presentations. The scope of this conference is to address issues and advancements in different fields related to Earth and Environmental Sciences. The conference is hosted by University of the Punjab, the mother institute of higher education in Pakistan. i WELCOME MESSAGE FROM CONFERENCE PATRONS Patron in Chief: Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab Lahore, Pakistan Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, As the Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab; it is a pleasure to express my deep Patronage for the Second International Conference on "Emerging Trends in Earth and Environmental Sciences"ETEES-2020” being hosted by CEES. Pakistan is currently facing severe environmental challenges. Addressing these issues in true spirit with potential solutions through research is the need of the hour. I hope this season‟s gathering of scientists on the occasion of “ETEES-2020” will avail opportunities for discussing interventions and solutions for combating environmental problems. I welcome all the international and national delegates to University of the Punjab and wish all the luck to the organizers. Patron: Prof. Dr. Sajid Rashid Ahmad Principal, CEES, University of the Punjab Lahore Pakistan Distinguished Guests and Colleagues, It gives me immense pleasure to welcome professors, scientists, experts and students from all participating countries including Pakistan, who are associated with earth and environmental sciences, to the Second International Conference on "Emerging Trends in Earth and Environmental Sciences"ETEES-2020”. As the Patron, I am very pleased to point out our commitment to play leading role in the field of earth and environmental sciences at national level based on multilateral collaboration with international scientists. I would like to extend my thanks to all the team members who have worked hard in making this event possible, the funding agencies including Higher Education Commission Islamabad, Punjab Higher Education Commission Lahore, Pakistan Sciences Foundation Islamabad and sponsors in all categories who have helped us to keep down the costs of “ETEES-2020”. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The financial support from the following funding agencies and sponsor are highly acknowledged; University of the Punjab, Lahore Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), Govt. of Punjab, Lahore Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), Islamabad Centre for Health and Gender Equiality (CHANGE), Lahore Institute of Democratic Education and Advocacy (IDEA), Lahore M/s B-Expert Technical Corporation, Lahore COTHM College, Lahore M/s Science House, Lahore M/s United Scientific Corporation M/s Pak Green Laboratories (Env. Div.) EEnviro Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd., Lahore Environmental Consultancies and Options (ECO), Lahore iii ORGANIZING COMMITTEE 1. Mr. Muhammad Waqar (Conference Secretary) 2. Dr. Nadia Jamil 3. Dr. Abdul Qadir 4. Dr. Irfan Ahmed Shaikh 5. Dr. Yumna Sadef INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE 1. Dr. Ana Cristina Cunha Queda Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal 2. Dr. Shahbaz Khan Director, UNESCO 3. Prof. Dr. Safdar Ali Anwar University of California, Riverside, USA 4. Dr. Muhamad Akram University of British Columbia, USA 5. Dr. Arshad Ali Professor Emeritus, University of Florida, USA 6. Prof. Dr. Ilhami Yildiz Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Canada 7. Dr. Veerle Jaspers Norwegian University of Science and Technology Norway 8. Dr. Talib E. Butt Northumbria University, UK 9. Dr. Tariq Rana Murray Darling River Basin Authority Australia 10. Dr. Muhammad Tahir Rashid Enviro Lead, Calgari Alberta, Canada 11. Dr. Mumtaz Akhtar Cheema Memorial University of Newfoundland, NL, Canada iv NATIONAL COMMITTEE 1. Prof. Dr. Sajid Rashid Ahmad 18. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Yasar University of the Punjab, Lahore Government College University, Lahore 2. Prof. Dr. Kausar Jamal Cheema 19. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Khan Dean, LCWU, Lahore. University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore 3. Prof. Dr. Jamil Anwar Ex-Vice Chancellor, Lahore Garison University, Lahore 20. Dr. Suhail Anjum Federal Urdu University, Karachi 4. Prof. Dr. Viqar Hussain Ex-Chairman, University of Karachi. 21. Dr. Saqib Nasir Pakistan Science Foundation, Islamabad 5. Dr. Abid Sherwani University of Management Technology, Lahore 22. Dr. Amanullah Mahar University of Sindh, Jamshoro 6. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nawaz Ch. Lahore School of Economics 23. Dr. Shafaqat Ali GCU, Faisalabad 7. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Chairman, PCRWR, Lahore 24. Dr. Saamia Saif Executive Director, ECO, Lahore Cantt. 8. Dr. Sakhawat Ali Ex-DG, PCSIR Labs Complex, Lahore. 25. Dr. Asim Mahmood Director, ECO, Lahore Cantt. 9. Prof. Dr. Atif Yaqoob Government College University, Lahore 26. Dr. Abdur Rehman Cheema NRSP, Pakistan 10. Prof. Dr. Faiza Sharif Government College University, Lahore 27. Dr. Arifa Lodhi, SUPPARCO, Lahore 11. Prof. Dr. Amtul Bari Tabinda Akhtar Government College University, Lahore 28. Dr. Muhammad Arshad ILO, Pakistan 12. Prof. Dr. Zahir Ahmad Zahir University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. 29. Dr. Asif Khan University of Peshawar, Peshawar 13. Prof. Dr. Riffat Naseem Malik Quaid I Azam University, Islamabad 30. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Bodla MMP Pakistan Pvt. Ltd, Lahore 14. Prof. Dr. Saleem Haider University of the Punjab, Lahore 31. Dr. Zaki ul Zaman Asam University