PESHAWAR: In a significant academic achievement, Dr. Aamir Iqbal recently obtained his doctoral degree from The Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan. His PhD research topic “Diversity in Pathogen Genetic Lineages Prevalent in Response to Host Diversity in European Wheat Germplasm in the Himalayan and Hindukush Regions of Pakistan” is of a great relevance for Pakistan’s wheat industry. Under the supervision of Associate Professor Dr. Sajid Ali, Dr. Iqbal conducted groundbreaking research contributing to the understanding and management of these prevalent wheat crop diseases.
The evaluation of Dr. Iqbal’s PhD thesis was conducted by two esteemed foreign experts i) Dr. Davinder Singh (Senior Research Scientist) from The University of Sydney, Australia, and ii) Dr. Francesca Taranto (Senior Research Scientist) from The Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Italy and one local Pakistani expert Dr. Ibrar Khan (Associate Professor) from the Center of Biotechnology and Microbiology (COBAM), The University of Peshawar in the relevant field of the study. They meticulously evaluated the research work and unanimously recognized the exceptional quality of the thesis, acknowledging its potential to revolutionize wheat disease management in Pakistan.
To further validate the significance of his thesis, Dr. Iqbal defended the thesis by addressing questions posed by the examiner, professors, and fellow students, enriching the academic discourse. The findings from his extensive research have also been published in prestigious international and national journals, affirming their credibility and value.
It is anticipated that the outcomes of this research will play a pivotal role in advancing and growing Pakistan’s agricultural sector, particularly in mitigating the impact of wheat rust diseases.
