Dr. Khawar Sultan

Assistant Professor

Environmental Sciences

Biography

Dr Khawar Sultan is a geochemist (Geologist) working as Assistant Professor at the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Lahore (UOL), Lahore. His research interests include applications of geochemical techniques (e.g. minerals, isotopic, REE and trace element signature, Geochemical Modeling) in solving issues (e.g. ground and surface water, and soil pollution) that concern societies of Pakistan.

Education

SrNo.	Year	Degree	Board/University
1	2006	PhD	Federation University Australia, Australia
2	2002	MS	University of Tsukuba, Japan.
3	1998	M.Sc. Geology	University of Punjab, Lahore

Experience

SrNo.	From	To	Category	Designation	Organization
1	01/13/2013	04/12/2017	Academic Experience	Lecturer	School of Marine and Environment Sciences, University Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia.
2	11/01/2009	01/13/2012	Academic Experience	Research Fellow	Department of Hydrology, University of Bayreuth, Germany

Publications

SrNo.	Title	Category	Sub Category
1	Decadal Impacts of Climate Change on Rainfed Agriculture Community in Western Somaliland, Africa	Publication	Journal Article
2	Effect of Selenium on Growth, Physio-Biochemical and Yield Traits of Lettuce under Limited Water Regimes	Publication	Journal Article
3	Soil applied vermicompost improves morpho-physio-biochemical and quality attributes of lettuce under saline conditions	Publication	Journal Article
4	Mass characterisation of elemental toxicants in popular cigarettes sale in Pakistan using ICP-OES	Publication	Journal Article
5	Risk Analysis of Heavy Metals and Groundwater Quality Indices in Residential Areas: A Case Study in the Rajanpur District, Pakistan	Publication	Journal Article
6	Calcium induced growth, physio-biochemical, antioxidants, osmolytes adjustments and phytoconstituents status in spinach under heat stress	Publication	Journal Article
7	Sorghum Allelopathy: Alternative Weed Management Strategy and their Impact on Mungbean Productivity and Soil Rhizosphere Properties	Publication	Journal Article
8	Alleviation of Cadmium Stress by Silicon Supplementation in Peas by Modulation of Morpho-physio-biochemical Variables and Health Risk Assessment	Publication	Journal Article
9	Consortium between Ground Water Quality and Lint Yield in Cotton Belt Areas	Publication	Journal Article
10	Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Metals and Metalloids in Soil, Water and Plant Continuum of Fragrant Rice	Publication	Journal Article
11	Trees to towers shift: Power lines emerging as a novel habitat for birds in Gujranwala, Pakistan.	Publication	Journal Article
12	A global modification in avifaunal behavior by use of waste disposal sites (waste dumps/rubbish dumps): a review paper	Publication	Journal Article
13	Population Explosion and Behavioural Changes of Opportunist Wild Avifauna at a Landfill at Gujranwala in Northeastern Punjab: A Baseline Deviation Study	Publication	Journal Article
14	Habitat Preferences of Birds in Relation to Exotic Trees in Canal Bank Forests Gujranwala, Pakistan	Publication	Journal Article
15	Experimental modeling, optimization and comparison of coagulants for removal of metallic pollutants from wastewater	Publication	Journal Article
16	Heavy metals stress, mechanism and remediation techniques in rice (Oryza sativaL.): A review	Publication	Journal Article
17	Status of heavy metals concentrations in oysters (Crassostrea sp.) from Setiu wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia = Status kepekatan logam berat dalam tiram (Crassostrea sp.) dari tanah bencah Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia	Publication	Journal Article
18	Distribution of Heavy Metals and Rare Earth Elements in the Surface Sediments of Penang River Estuary, Malaysia	Publication	Journal Article
19	The Changes of Sedimentological Characteristics in Kemaman Estuary, Terengganu, Malaysia	Publication	Journal Article
20	Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope fractionation factors for the Goethite (hematite)-water system	Publication	Journal Article
21	Spatial distribution of Selected Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments of the EEZ of the East Coast Peninsular Malaysia	Publication	Journal Article
22	Geochemical characterization of clay minerals in surface sediments of three major rivers along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia	Publication	Journal Article
23	Hydrochemistry and baseline values of major and trace elements in tropical surface waters of the Terengganu River (Malaysia).	Publication	Journal Article
24	Distribution of Pb, As, Cd, Sn and Hg in soil, sediment and surface water of the tropical river watershed, Terengganu (Malaysia).	Publication	Journal Article
25	Geochemistry and distribution of major, minor and trace elements in the tropical sediments of the Terengganu River basin, Malaysia	Publication	Journal Article
26	Distribution and geochemical baselines of major, minor and trace elements in tropical topsoils of the Terengganu River basin, Malaysia	Publication	Journal Article
27	Seasonal Changes and Major Cation Composition in individual Rain Events at Ballarat, Central Victoria (Australia).	Publication	Journal Article
28	Rare earth elements in tropical surface water, soil and sediments of the Terengganu River Basin, Malaysia	Publication	Journal Article
29	Distribution of metals in soils of the Creswick and Ballarat areas with emphasis on Arsenic in relation to geology and mining activities	Publication	Journal Article
30	Distribution of metals in soils of the Creswick and Ballarat areas with emphasis on Arsenic in relation to geology and mining activities.	Publication	Journal Article
31	Seasonal changes in arsenic concentrations and hydrogeochemistry of Canadian Creek, Ballarat (Victoria, Australia).	Publication	Journal Article
32	Arsenic and major cation hydrogeochemistry of the Central Victorian (Creswick-Ballarat) surface waters	Publication	Journal Article
33	Clay mineralogy of Central Victorian (Creswick) soils: clay mineral contents as tool of environmental analysis.	Publication	Journal Article
34	Geological and Sr-isotopic characteristics of stream and spring waters: a study of surface acidification from forested catchments at Seto, Central Japan	Publication	Journal Article

Conferences

SrNo.	Year	Level	City	Country	Confence
1	2010	International	Copenhagen	Denmark	Magnetic Methods in Biogeochemistry, Denmark

Awards

SrNo.	Year	Awarding Organization	Description
1	2009	Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany	Alexander von Humboldt Postdoc Fellowship, Bayreuth University, Germany
2	2000	Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology	Monbukagakusho Scholarship, University of Tsukuba, Japan

Memberships

Courses Taught

SrNo.	Type	Title	University	Semester
1	Environmental Science	Environmental Chemistry	The University of Lahore	BS Sem-III
2	Environmental Science	Introduction To Earth Science	The University of Lahore	BS Sem-II
3	Environmental Science	Strategic Environmental Assessment	The University of Lahore	M.Phil. Sem-I
4	Environmental Science	Environmental Profile of Pakistan	The University of Lahore	BS Sem-V
5	Environmental Science	Hydrology	The University of Lahore	M.Sc. Sem-II

Project Supervisor

Services

Books

Research Fundings

Extracurricular Activities

SrNo.	Hobbies	Interests

Languages and Skills

SrNo.	Langues	Skills
1	English
2	Urdu
3	Punjabi
4	Japanese	(Some)
5	German	(Some)

Active Collabrations

Consulting Experience

Achievements / Rewards

Dr Akhtar represents Pakistan, explores collaboration with Germany on global issues

Description

In a substantial ambassadorial effort, Prof Dr Rabia Akhtar (Director of the Center for Security, Strategy, and Policy Research (CSSPR)) represented Pakistan as a thought leader in a delegation of five eminent scholars from Asia. This delegation, constituted by the Asia chapter of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), visited Berlin, Germany, to engage in dialogues and meetings aimed at understanding Germany’s viewpoints on key global issues, from June 13-15, 2023.

The FES Strategic Foresight Group, comprising scholars from Pakistan, Thailand, India, South Korea, and Indonesia, sought to gain insights into Germany’s perception of the world, the interconnectedness of geopolitics and geoeconomics, and the overall security and stability of different regions. By interacting with parliamentarians, scholars, and think tank experts, the group aimed to identify Germany’s foreign policy direction amidst intensifying great power competition, technological advancements, and the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Dr Akhtar articulated Pakistan’s aspirations to become a regional and global connector, and expressed her belief that the country could serve as Germany’s partner in promoting peace. She said academic collaboration between the two countries must lay the groundwork for better ties. In that regard, she hoped that the University of Lahore (UOL) and CSSPR will like to establish linkages, to work on security and strategic issues with policymakers, universities, and think tankers in Germany.

Moreover, during the meetings with German officials and academicians, including Dr.Martin Thummel (Deputy Head for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Federal Foreign Office), Dr Akhtar along with the delegation underlined the importance of collaboration between nations in an increasingly interconnected world. It was argued that Europe and Asia should not be considered separate arenas, as common threats and opportunities necessitate a collective approach.

The participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions on how Germany’s foreign policy has evolved amid geopolitical tensions and how the country aims to strike a balance between values-based and interests-based approaches, particularly in the face of the evolving Sino-U.S. rivalry. Central to these discussions was Germany’s embrace of Zeitenwende, signifying a transformative shift in its foreign and defence policies following the war in Ukraine. German officials highlighted that this philosophy would enable their country to contribute positively to regional and global stability.

Furthermore, the delegation stressed the importance of inter-regional dialogues, trade, and economic cooperation between Germany and Asian countries during their meetings with parliamentarians. Geoeconomics emerged as a key theme, with experts acknowledging its potential to promote interdependence, peace, and stability. However, they also expressed caution, and were mindful of the geopolitical complexities that could hinder its effectiveness.

Dr Ashraf becomes Pakistan’s top and world’s 12th most cited Plant Science researcher

Description

What traits set exceptional academic leaders apart? One is their ongoing commitment to academic excellence. Prof Dr Muhammed Ashraf (Rector, UOL), in an interview with the Press and Publications Cell (PPC) of the University of Lahore (UOL), shared how his commitment to academics and research led him to stand amongst the top-cited Plant Science researchers in the world.

The second edition of Research.com rankings of the best researchers was released recently. According to these rankings, Dr Ashraf stood 12th in the list of top-cited researchers with a massive number of 72,461 citations and 1,169 publications in the field of Plant Science.

While sharing his sentiments with the PPC team, he said, “It is a great honour and privilege for me to be among the world’s top-cited Plant Science researchers. Barely people from third-world countries like Pakistan get such immense acknowledgement for research, but I, hailing from a developing country, take pride in the fact that I was able to garner the limelight along with researchers from advanced countries like America, Germany, etc.”

Motivation for Plant Science Research

For most of his academic life, Dr Ashraf has been conducting research anchored on Plant Science, his field of specialisation for which he has recently been recognised globally. Revealing his motivation behind his research drive, he mentioned that “Research is the key element for institutions and even for academicians to leave an unprecedented imprint on the global academic spectrum. The only sound way to project novel ideas pertaining to your field is through research, and that is what keeps me right on track with research. To make significant contributions to the field of Plant Science, I try to continually explore and conduct impactful research.”

Global Acclamation

In continuing the discussion of his research motivation, on a lighter note, he shared that he received a congratulatory email from Mr Rattan Laal (The Ohio State University, the United States). “To my surprise, Mr Laal, the world’s most cited researcher, shared his congratulatory remarks with me. I am humbled to the core by this global acclamation that I have received so far,” he said.

Catering to Contemporary Plant Science Issues

In every field of study, researchers try to address and explore solutions for the most pressing issues. In Plant Science and Agronomy, the focal point of researchers nowadays is the impact of climate change on plants and, broadly, on the agriculture sector. Upon being asked about the impact of his research, the UOL Rector stated that “Climate change, undoubtedly, has adversely affected the lives of plants, animals, and even humans. My focus is particularly on plants and agriculture. Through my research, I have always tried to address and highlight the pressing issues that are being faced mainly by Asian and African countries, and this is also one of the reasons that my research is getting global acknowledgement because it caters to global issues. Majorly, my work is based on different plant stresses such as drought, salinity, waterlogging, temperature extremes etc.”

Fundamentals of Research, Publications, and Rankings

Not many people are familiar with the Research.com rankings, and in fact, they lack even the most basic knowledge of research rankings. During his interview with PPC, Dr Ashraf summarised the entire research ranking process by saying that “A researcher gets ranked based on his number of publications and citations. Researchers should try to publish their work in international journals, which will increase their chances of maximum citations. The more publications and citations, the higher the H-index, and ultimately, the better the chances of getting ranked at the top.”

Tips for soon-to-be Early-career Researchers

There is no short cut to conduct profoundly organic research, and that is what Dr Ashraf said. “Dedication and hard work are the keys to achieve research goals. Nevertheless, to stand out in the pool of researchers, it is pertinent, especially for Plant Science research aspirants, to focus on technological and digital advancements, keeping oneself up-to-date with international contemporary research trends, and fuelling the urge of discovery by gaining more and more knowledge,” he advised the students.

Dr Tahir explores the role of financial risk-taking attitude in consumer satisfaction

Description

A consumer’s attitude of financial risk tolerance (FRT) plays an important role in his/her financial decisions, thereby determining his well-being. FRT is a consumer’s preference for the amount of risk he undertakes while making investments. Recently, a lot of research studies have been conducted on consumer well-being and FRT. Being motivated by this trend in financial research, Dr Muhammad Tahir (Assistant Professor, Lahore Business School, the University of Lahore (UOL)) and fellow researchers explored the relationship amongst financial literacy, propensity to plan (PTP), FRT, financial satisfaction, and life satisfaction.

Though scholarly acumen for consumer well-being is rapidly developing, not much is known regarding the collective roles of financial literacy, PTP, and FRT. Dr Tahir’s study addressed this gap by showing that financial literacy, risk-taking attitudes, and planning propensities are all interconnected and necessary ingredients to improve financial and life satisfaction.

Dr Tahir’s analytical study titled “Role of financial risk-taking attitude in personal finances and consumer satisfaction: evidence from Australia” revealed a strong partial mediation of FRT between financial literacy and financial satisfaction. Moreover, the analysis showed that a high PTP combined with a high FRT results in high financial satisfaction.

For achieving the main objective of the research, the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey was taken into consideration. Furthermore, Dr Tahir used the variance-based partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), also known as the PLS path modelling approach, to test the proposed hypotheses of the study empirically.

The findings of Dr Tahir’s research study showed the importance of creating financial plans in accordance with risk tolerance. Considering the relevance of increasing financial literacy, Dr Tahir suggested that the use of tools that could help consumers plan and spent in risky investments might lead them to have a more financial and life satisfaction.

UOL chemist explores an eco-friendly alternative thickening agent for textile printing

Description

Textile printing is the most versatile and vital methodology for introducing colour and design to textile fabrics. Different types of thickeners (chemical compounds) are used for printing, such as polysaccharide thickener, synthetic thickener, and emulsion thickener. Synthetic thickeners are highly criticised for endangering the environment at the manufacturing stages.

Dr Dure Najaf Iqbal (Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore) and her team of researchers explored an eco-friendly alternative for synthetic thickeners that is effective in the textile printing process. The team revealed that guar gum could serve as an outstanding natural thickener, stabiliser, and gelling agent and could as well be used in various industrial units, including food, cosmetics, textiles, oil fracturing, and mining. Guar gum is one of the most important naturally occurring non-ionic high molecular weight polysaccharides and consists of galactomannan, which has vast applications in various fields.

Dr Iqbal and her team synthesised carboxymethyl guar gum (CMG) via monochloroacetic acid under alkaline conditions. The carboxymethylation of guar gum was accomplished by the Willianson ether technique and the reaction conditions were optimised during the course of the experiment. Guar derivatives with variable degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The DS was determined quantitatively by the titration method for each derivative.

For this research study, native guar gum was purchased from National Guar Industries, Karachi, with a molecular weight of 1.043 106 g/mol. Whereas, all the chemicals and reagents used were of analytical grade and were purchased from Merck, Germany.

The result proved that the substituted guar gum is an eco-friendly, non-hazardous thickener as compared to synthetic thickeners. Furthermore, the penetration properties, fixation ability, and colour fastness of guar gum were compared with those of commercial alginate thickeners. The printing trial of the thickener CMG also showed that carboxymethyl guar gum could easily replace conventional thickeners without any compromise on printing results and could prevent fabric stiffness. The tested water-holding capacity (a central aspect that determines commercial applications of gums) of guar gum made it ideal for improving the texture of end products in diverse industrial formulations.

Also, it was revealed that the implementation of carboxymethyl guar gum in textile printing can reduce the economic burden associated with exporting alginate and other synthetic thickeners. This, in turn, could enable exporters to offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality.

Faculty / Staff Profiles

Dr. Khawar Sultan

Assistant Professor

Environmental Sciences

Biography

Education

Experience

Publications

Conferences

Awards

Courses Taught

Project Supervisor

Services

Books

Research Fundings

Extracurricular Activities

Languages and Skills

Active Collabrations

Consulting Experience

Dr Akhtar represents Pakistan, explores collaboration with Germany on global issues

Dr Ashraf becomes Pakistan’s top and world’s 12th most cited Plant Science researcher

Dr Tahir explores the role of financial risk-taking attitude in consumer satisfaction

UOL chemist explores an eco-friendly alternative thickening agent for textile printing