Celebrated soil scientist passes away
His body will be laid to rest following the offering of funeral prayers at the Technical Mosque
UAF Faculty of Agriculture Dean M Arshad. PHOTO: fb.com/UAF
FAISALABAD:
University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Faculty of Agriculture Dean M Arshad passed away on Saturday at his People’s Colony residence.
59-year-old Arshad was a noted soil scientist. His body will be laid to rest following the offering of funeral prayers at the Technical Mosque.
Expressing profound grief over the demise of the varsity’s dean, UAF Vice Chancellor (VC) Iqrar Ahmad Khan said Arshad’s death was a great loss for the nation’s agricultural sector. He said his demise had left a void that would never be filled. Khan said his contribution to the education, research and agricultural sectors would always be remembered.
The UAF VC said the deceased had obtained a PhD in soil microbiology and biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside. Khan said Arshad had over three decades of experience in research and academia. He said the deceased had made a seminal contribution to the introduction of microbially produced plant growth regulators to enhance crop production.
Khan said the deceased had also developed effective bioremediation technology for soil and water polluted by pesticides. The UAF VC said Arshad had also formulated novel biofertilisers to improve crop yields.
He said the deceased had been felicitated by the Pakistan Academy of Sciences in 2001 and the Higher Education Commission in 2003. The UAF VC said he had also been decorated with the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in 2005.
Arshad had been serving as the faculty’s dean at the time of his demise. He had also served as the UAF Centre for Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology between 1998 and 2000. Arshad had also overseen the operations of the UAF’s Centre for Agricultural Genetics and Saline Agriculture between 1998 and 1999. He had also served as the director of the varsity’s Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences.
The deceased soil scientist had authored over 200 documents including research papers, abstracts and technical reports. Over 100 research articles penned by Arshad were published in foreign journals. His contributions in the journals had an impact factor of over 200 and his work was cited nearly 600 times.
16 students had obtained PhDs under his supervision. He had also overseen the work of 17 other students as a co-supervisor. Another eight had been pursuing their doctoral studies under his supervision at the time of his demise.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2016.
University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Faculty of Agriculture Dean M Arshad passed away on Saturday at his People’s Colony residence.
59-year-old Arshad was a noted soil scientist. His body will be laid to rest following the offering of funeral prayers at the Technical Mosque.
Expressing profound grief over the demise of the varsity’s dean, UAF Vice Chancellor (VC) Iqrar Ahmad Khan said Arshad’s death was a great loss for the nation’s agricultural sector. He said his demise had left a void that would never be filled. Khan said his contribution to the education, research and agricultural sectors would always be remembered.
The UAF VC said the deceased had obtained a PhD in soil microbiology and biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside. Khan said Arshad had over three decades of experience in research and academia. He said the deceased had made a seminal contribution to the introduction of microbially produced plant growth regulators to enhance crop production.
Khan said the deceased had also developed effective bioremediation technology for soil and water polluted by pesticides. The UAF VC said Arshad had also formulated novel biofertilisers to improve crop yields.
He said the deceased had been felicitated by the Pakistan Academy of Sciences in 2001 and the Higher Education Commission in 2003. The UAF VC said he had also been decorated with the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in 2005.
Arshad had been serving as the faculty’s dean at the time of his demise. He had also served as the UAF Centre for Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology between 1998 and 2000. Arshad had also overseen the operations of the UAF’s Centre for Agricultural Genetics and Saline Agriculture between 1998 and 1999. He had also served as the director of the varsity’s Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences.
The deceased soil scientist had authored over 200 documents including research papers, abstracts and technical reports. Over 100 research articles penned by Arshad were published in foreign journals. His contributions in the journals had an impact factor of over 200 and his work was cited nearly 600 times.
16 students had obtained PhDs under his supervision. He had also overseen the work of 17 other students as a co-supervisor. Another eight had been pursuing their doctoral studies under his supervision at the time of his demise.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2016.