Department of Forestry & Range Management

Dr. Rashid

Ahmad Khan

The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (then West Pakistan Agriculture University Lyallpur) was established on 1-11-1961. Around the campus of internationally reputed Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute with the following principal objectives.

a- Focus on Agricultural Education to solve vital problems:

b- Wide scope of learning with broad based curricula:

c- Integrated out look by providing instructions in various disciplines pertaining to farming such as Forestry, Range Science & Wildlife etc.

d- Combining teaching with research and extension for bridging the gap between lecture rooms/laboratories and farms and developing a feed back mechanism.

Unlike Departments of Agronomy, Entomology, Horticulture, and Soil Science etc, this Department did not inherit and thing whatsoever from the former Punjab Agricultural College. This apparent disadvantage at the beginning, however, proved to have few latent advantages. The Department, for example, was free of any inherited prejudices and inhibitions and its faculty felt more energetic, dynamic and forward looking.

Though relatively young and small this Department is one of the most dynamic and forward looking in the Faculty. It has been estimated that so for 225 students have earned their B.Sc. Hons. Agri. Major Forestry. There graduates are serving the nation in very important positions and are doing an excellent job there. The Department feels proud of them. The Department believes in continuous struggle for development and progress. A master plan is being developed for constructing, and equipping a huge complex for meeting the predicted future needs of the country. The department is also working hard in developing linkages with local and national research/teaching institutes such as NIAB, NIBGE, BARI, BLRI, CHID, PFI, and NARC of parc. for imparting better teaching and conducting better and meaningful research in forestry etc. at UAF campus.

From the very first day of its inception, the Department had to function in borrowed buildings by borrowed/voluntary staff. The Deans of the Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. S. P. Swenson and Mr. N. D. Yousaf were always keeping a watchful and kind eye on the Department during all these infancy years. The honoured name of Mr. Abdul Hamid, Divisional Forest Officer of Faisalabad at that time, will always be remembered in the history of this department who, inspite of his heavy official assignment, volunteered to teach a compulsory general course of Forestry to all undergraduates of the Faculty of Agriculture. He was followed by S.K. Khanzada, his successor D.F.O. and by Dr. Abdul Hameed Khan, Former Forest Botanist at PFI and Director, Division of Basic Sciences of the University at the time.

The first regular appointment as Associate Professor(then Reader), in April 1964, was that of Mr. Muhammad Sharif. He served the Department for three months and left for higher studies in Unites States. During his short stay at the Campus, Mr. M. Sharif prepared a Development project outlining the specific goals, staff training proposals, and enlisting requirements of physical facilities. Mr. Masood A.A. Quraishi was the first regular staff member who joined this University in July 1995 as Assistant Professor (then Senior Lecturer) The Department was then housed along with Department of Agronomy in Northern Block of old Campus (in rooms now occupied by Department of Islamic Studies). Another young teacher Mr. M. Anwar Qureshi also joined this Department in July 1965 as Senior Lecturer and immediately left for U.S. for higher studies. Dr. Abdul Rahman, Reader, Department Plant Breading & Genetics (later Vice Chancellor, UAF0 was appointed as acting Head of the Department in August. 1965. Mr. Masood Quraishi continued to teach a compulsory course of Forestry uninterrupted to all under graduates till August 1971. The Department of Forestry and Agronomy were both shifted in 1967 to an other old building called Vegetable Section. (Presently sunken oval lawn in front of Iqbal Auditorium), Mr. Zafer Quraishi, instructor, Department of Agronomy was selected as senior Lecturer in this Department in May 1967. He left for U.S. for Ph.D. in Range Management but changed his subject there and never came back to the Department. Dr. Muhammad Sharif came back in August 1967 as Reader and Head of the Department. The Department thus has its “own Chairman” for the first time. Dr. Muhammad Anwar Qureshi returned in August 1968 as Senior Lecturer. Later in 1967, The Department was housed along with Department of Soil Science in the Southern Block of Old Campus. The Department under the dynamic leadership of its Chairman made earnest efforts and procured a large variety of modern laboratory instruments and field equipment through the courtesy of USAID project. During this period, the Department also succeeded in acquiring and developing a Field Research Station at the campus near New Young Wala over an area of 15 acres and a project Nursery over an area of 9 acres near GobindPura Gate. In 1968, the Department was shifted again and housed with Land Utilization Office in another old building along Gopindpura Road. Under the leadership of Dr. M. Sharif, the Department initiated M.Sc. Range Management Programme in 1970. Mr.M. Anwar Qureshi, however suddenly left the Department for good on 15.8.1971. Mr. Masood Qureshi also left the Department on 15.8. 1971 for higher studies abroad. Dr.M. Sharif, too, suddenly left the Department for good in November 1971 for joining Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.

CHAIRMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

1) Dr. S. P. Swenson 01-11-61 to 03-11-63
2) Mr. N. D. Yousuf 04-11-63 to 18-07-65
3) Dr. Abdul-Rehman 19-07-65 to 19-08-67
4) Dr. M. Sharif 20-08-67 to 07-11-71
5) Dr. Daud Ahmad Khan 08-11-71. to 10-09-73
6) Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan 11-09-73 to 09-09-76
7) Dr. Masood A.A. Quraishi 10-09-76 to 20-09-81
8) Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan 21-09-81 to 26-02-90
9) Dr. Masood A. A. Quraishi 27-02-81 to 07-12-2000
10) Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan 18-12-2000 to Date

Dr. Daud Ahmad Khan, Chairman, Department of Horticulture took over as acting chairman of this Department in Nov. 1971. Later in 1971, the Department was finally shifted to its permanent building at the New Campus. Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan joined this Department on 11.10.72 as lecturer. He has the distinction of being first graduate of this department. Mr. Zahoor Hussain Khan, another pioneer graduate of this Department, joined as lecturer in September 1973. Dr. Masood A.A. Quraishi came back from U.S. on 4.7.1976 and joined the Department as Chairman. The Department was further strengthened in February, 1981 by the appointment of Messrs Shahid Yaqoob Mian and Abdul Majeed Chaudhary.

In 1977, the Department developed and initiated B.Sc. Hons. Agri. Major Forestry, Range Management 7 Wildlife programme. Khawaja Mushtaq Ahmad joined this department as Assistant Professor and served it for a year and half before proceeding to US for higher studies. Mr. Abdul Majeed left this Department for joining University College, Rawalakot as Asstt. Professor. By the end of 1981. Muhammad Iqbal Anwar joined this Department as lecturer in February, 1982. In 1978-79, the Department developed 2 text books, one each on Forestry and on Range Management. The Forest Research Area near New Youngwala of the Department was withdrawn in 1980/81 and Project Nursery Area was permanently handed over to the Department and was converted as Research and Demonstrations area. Mr. Zahoor Hussain Khan left the Department and proceeded to Turkey for Ph. D. In Range Management in 1982. In 1982 Dr. Masood Quraishi left for kingdom of Saudi Arabia to join as Associate Professor at King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Dr. Abdul Hameed Khan, Retd. Prof. Joined as subject matter specialist in 1982.

Mr. M. Iqbal Anwar Lecturer left for U.K. for Ph. D. In Forestry in early 1984. Messers Mian Muhammad Akram and Mr. Muhammad Ishaque joined this Department in 1986. Dr. Zahoor Hussain Khan came back in 1985 and joined as Assistant Professor, He however left the University for Libya after a year. The Department developed a Forest Research Area over 35 acres at PARS during 1986-87. Mr. M. Ajmal Khan joined this Department as lecturer in 1986, and left the Department in 1987 for joining PARC, Islamabad. Dr. Abdul Hameed left his assignment in 1989. Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan left for U.S. for Ph.D. in Forestry on 30.12.1989. Mr. Muhammad Tahir Siddiqui joined this Department on 14.1.1990 as lecturer and Dr. Masood Quraishi rejoined this Department as Chairman on 14.2.90 Messers Mian Muhammad Akram and Muhammad Ishaque left for Ph.D. in Agro forestry 7 Range Management respectively in 1992. Mr. M. Sabir Khan joined this Department as lecturer on 1.3.1992 and Mr. Zulifqar Ali Khan joined as lecturer in 1993.

The Department revised and updated entire scheme of studies for B.Sc. Hons and M.Sc. Hons Agri. The title of the major was also changed to Forestry. As a result of consistent efforts by the dept. The UGC at last notified the equation of B.Sc. Hons. Agri. Major Forestry with M.Sc. Forestry form Peshawar and verified their competence to compete for professional jobs. During 1990-94, the department was able to write 3 text books and practical manuals and one made easy Forestry book for competitive examinations.

Dr. Sh. M. Abdul Qayyoom joined this department as subject matters specialist in 1993. Mr. M. Akram Zia joined this Department as Assistant Professor in 1993. Dr. G.S. Khan returned from U.S. on 5.2.1994. It was during 1993/94 that the Department made significant development in its laboratory and field research facilities and developed a programme for starting Ph.D. programme in 1995. The Department is presently busy in writing a Master Plan for its development and is also preparing a number of projects on important national issues of varying durations.

The Department has, inspite of severe shortage of resources, gradually but consistently developed a core of teaching and research facilities over the last 30 years of its existence. Required lecturer rooms and laboratories are available in the department. Laboratory instruments for Forestry, Forest/Ecology, Mensuration, Engineering, Utilization and range Management are available.

Field equipments of various type are also present. The Department has two well development Field Research stations at the university campus and at PARS covering an area of 10 and 40 acres respectively. The Department is also running a Temperate Forest Research Station at Murree Hills (40 Km from Islamabad extending over an area of 5 acres at 6000’ altitude above sea level.

In addition to the Central Library of the University, the Department has also established its own sizeable library. A nucleus laboratory and field staff is also available in the Department. A Computer and a Vehicle are also available in the Department. Laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture are open to our students and Faculty of this Department The laboratory facilities of Punjab Forestry Research Institute, and of Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad are also at the disposal of the Department. In, addition, 700 acre private desert is also available for experimentation. A watershed model has been developed in the field for the purpose of teaching and demonstration. A live herbarium of forage trees/shrubs and range grasses has been recently established. An elegant Alley Farming experiment has been layed out at PARS. An experiment on utilization of salt affected soils has also been established at PARS.

STAFF

NAME : Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan
POSITION : Associate Prof./Chairman
EXPERTISE :
RESEARCH :

NAME : Dr. Rashid Ahmad Khan
POSITION : Associate Professor
EXPERTISE :
RESEARCH :

NAME : Mr. Shahid Yaqoob
POSITION : Assistant Professor
EXPERTISE :
RESEARCH :

NAME : Dr. Muhammad Ishaque
POSITION : Assistant Professor
EXPERTISE :
RESEARCH :

NAME : Dr. M. Tahir Siddiqui
POSITION : Assistant Professor
EXPERTISE :
RESEARCH :

NAME : Dr. Zahoor H. Khan
POSITION : Assistant Professor
EXPERTISE :
RESEARCH :

NAME : Mr. Amer H. Shah
POSITION : Lecturer
EXPERTISE :
RESEARCH :

Nature has provided man with billions of chemical compounds in the form of natural products distributed in plant kingdom. It is the chemists, physiologists and the pharmacologists who should look into the utility of these compounds in the service of mankind. A variety of plants have been used in various parts of the world as natural diuretics. Anthemis nobilis, Cusumus sativus, Trichosanthes cucumerina, Colichos biflorus, Cichorium intybus, Cucumis sativus, Cucumis melo, Fumaria officinialis Linn., Foenicumlum vulgare Mill and Euphorbia lathyrus are commonly used in Pakistan as indigenous natural diuretics. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on aqueous and alcoholic extracts of these plants in goats and dogs have revealed their judicious use as diuretics. Some local plants (Cassia absus, Lavandula stoechas, Euphorbia lathyrus and Alloe indica) have also been evaluated for their hypotensive effect in dogs. Recently, work is in progress on anti-fungal activities of saponins isolated from Medicago sativa, Zinnia elegans, Chenopodium album and Trigonella foenum graecum against organisms responsible for causing Red root of sugarcane (Colletotrichum falcatum), Charcoal rot of sunflower (Macrophomina phaseolina), Bakanae disease of rice (Fusarium moniliforme), Cotton root rot of cotton (Rhizoctonia solani) and gram wilt disease in gram (Fusarium oxysporum)