Shaukat Ali

• PhD, M.Phil
• Associate Professor at Karakoram International University

In this study, we report the first DFT/TD-DFT (B3LYP-GD3/6-311G+(d,p)) analysis of a benzodithiophene-based covalent organic framework (BDT-COF) interacting with a phenol (Ph-OH) guest for indoor air quality monitoring. Host-guest interactions and fluorescence-quenching mechanisms were explored by comparing computed and experimental structural and...

Drought is one of the most complicated and challenging natural hazards, which occurs nearly in every part of the world and poses recurring challenges to agriculture, food security, livestock, human health, and water management. Pakistan has a long history of drought, however, this study focuses on drought analysis and projection in the province of...

Alpine lakes are aquatic ecosystems that maintain and regulate water supply for the downstream streams, rivers, and other reservoirs. This study examined the water characteristics of various alpine lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan, Northern Pakistan. For this purpose, water was sampled and investigated for basic parameters, anions, and cations using the m...

In recent decades, temperature variations have significantly affected the ecosystem and human livelihood in Pakistan. The wavelet analysis is employed to identify the associations between regional temperature change and global teleconnections, i.e., Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Arctic Oscillation (AO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO),...

Artisanal and Small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities are being practiced globally, especially in developing countries. In the northern part of Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan), ASGM events occur in many areas of the region along the Upper Indus Basin. According to the local inhabitants, these methods are very old in the territory. The activity level...

Unlabelled: Functional traits determine the fitness of organisms and mirror their ecological functions. Although trait-based approaches provide ecological insights, it is underexploited for marine zooplankton, particularly with respect to seasonal variation. Here, based on four major functional traits, including body length, feeding type, trophic...

There is a dire need of air quality monitoring in the high-mountain areas of Karakoram-Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region, particularly related to the recent activities undergoing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This study presents the first baseline monitoring and evaluation findings from Gilgit city, Gilgit-Baltistan. Hourly data colle...

This study was attempted to assess the toxic efficacy of three plants extracts Chenopodium botrys (C.B), Carthamus Tinctorius (C.T), Mentha Royleana (M.R) and their mixed solutions against Tribolium Castaneum in laboratory environments by filter paper impregnation process. Selected concentrations for each mixed plants were 5 %, 2.5 %, 1.2 5%, 0.63...

This study investigated the contamination level and risk associated with toxic trace elements in springs’ water from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Toxic trace elements, including Hg, As, and Zn, were analyzed by metalyzer, HM 2000 serial no. MY-011-006, while elements such as Cr, Al, B, Ni, Cu, Mn, and Fe were analyzed using Metalometer HM 2000 seria...

Deforestation is one of the major environmental issues in today's world specially a matter of concern in developing countries. Pressure on the natural resources has increased like conversion of forest into agricultural land for their food and for their living purposes. If this process is not controlled in time then it will have worse consequences i...

Sudan dyes were investigated in branded and non-branded spices, commonly available in the markets of Karachi, Pakistan. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a variable wavelength detector (VWD) was applied to determine Sudan dyes I-IV. The non-branded samples had higher concentrations of Sudan dyes than the maximum limits of 0.1 mg/kg...

In Gilgit-Baltistan, urbanization, transportation, unplanned small-scale industry, kitchen waste, inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, and weedicides contribute to agricultural field contamination, creating severe health risks. This study aims to determine the health risks caused by heavy metals found in various indigenous fresh fruits....

Ullah et al.: Analysis of municipal solid waste management in Afghanistan, current and future prospects: A case study of Kabul city-2485-APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 20(3):2485-2507. Abstract. In Asian countries like Afghanistan, the quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) is rapidly increasing because of increasing population and eco...

This study is based on detailed multidisciplinary field investigations with the use of the Alpine River and Stream Ecosystems (ARISE) Classification to assess spatial and temporal patterns of ben-thic macroinvertebrate communities in relation to altitudinal and channel stability gradients. We expected the field validation through the use of an inno...

Heavy metals and metalloids pollution in in agricultural lands and arable lands has produced widespread environmental problems around the world. HMMs are mobilized in soils, increasing their bioavailability to plants which then enters the food chain. The speciation and bioavailability of HMMs in plants are determined by HMMs species and soil enviro...

________________________________________________________________________ ilk contains all the essential nutrients like fats, proteins, and minerals. The utilization of contaminated food can induce a proportion of pesticides in the body. The main purpose of the study was to determine the pesticide residues and current status of breast milk in primip...

________________________________________________________________________ eavy metals are chemical elements that are poisonous and toxic comprising of both necessary and unnecessary trace metals. All aquatic organisms require very low amount of these metals yet in case where these values exceed to certain range, threshold harmful effects are levied...

Heavy metals are chemical elements that are poisonous and toxic comprising of both necessary and unnecessary trace metals. All aquatic organisms require very low amount of these metals yet in case where these values exceed to certain range, threshold harmful effects are levied upon the ecosystem. The aim of this study was to estimate the bioaccumul...

Mega development project like CPEC will enhance the human well-being, living standards, and boost the revenue of local communities by better opportunities for education and employment. However, it can play a vital role in socio- economic stability only if the environmental and human health aspects are also considered, which is the central idea o...

1. To determine the hydro Limnological assessment of selected lakes in Skardu 2. To Identify and characterization of the lakes waters of the Skardu region. 3. Investigation of sources for the environmental degradation, if any

Carbonaceous aerosols have been reported for their effects on visual, optical, chemical, and aesthetic nature of air. Intensity and frequency of such effects have been reported to increase in developing countries like Pakistan in recent past. A continuous measurement of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in PM2.5 was carried out at an ur...

Description of the subject. Mungbean (Vigna radiata [L]. R.Wilczek) is an important summer leguminous crop. It is widely grown in South Asia to fulfill the human nutritious demand of protein, minerals, vitamins and bioactive constituents. It is well suited to be intercropped with cereals in N limited soil to enhance crop productivity through biolog...

Information on the spatial variability in plant disease is essential for location-based disease management. In the current study, the spatial distribution of tomato early blight disease was ascertained in District Gilgit, GilgitBaltistan, Pakistan. The comprehensive field survey was carried in two growing seasons (2014–2015), whereas in each growin...

Forests of the Naltar Valley in Pakistan are constantly threatened by natural and anthropogenic disturbances. The study examines the natural and human-induced disturbance factors that determine natural forest conservation and management in a dry temperate mountainous region. To better assess anthropogenic disturbance factors, we randomly selected 2...

Forests of the Naltar Valley in Pakistan are constantly threatened by natural and anthropogenic disturbances. The study examines the natural and human-induced disturbance factors that determine natural forest conservation and management in a dry temperate mountainous region. To better assess anthropogenic disturbance factors, we randomly selected 2...

Change in climate and its adverse impacts are rewarding progressively more obvious in fragile ecosystems of Gilgit-Baltistan. Due to geo-morphological, topographic, and ecological conditions mountainous landscapes of Hindukush, Kara-koram and Himalaya (HKH) is more vulnerable to climate change effects. A detailed questionnaire survey was conducted...

Forests resources in Naltar Valley, Pakistan, are under continuous pressure because of limited access to off-farm opportunities and alternative source of energy. Therefore, this study underlines the essential demographic and socio-economic characteristics of rural livelihood on forest resource-dependent in the study area that explain the factors of...

The study explores the spatial variability of soil parameters in potato growing valleys of CKNP region, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Soil sample’s location was documented through handheld GPS. Investigation reveals that soil of study area varies from loam to silty loam having pH values from 7.23 to 8.30 along with 0.45-1.39 electrical conductivity....

Some new ladybird (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) records collected during the last four years across Sindh are reported. A first preliminary checklist of ladybirds from Sindh is presented, consisting of one subfamily, ten tribes, 21 genera, and 29 species including four new records, namely Bulaealichatschovii (Hummel), Exochomuspubescens Küster, Scymn...

In this study, plants belonging to family Solanaceae growing in Western Himalaya region have been observed palynologically under Light Microscope and Scanning electron microscope. Present investigation comprises of 10 genera and 23 species, namely, Atropa acuminata, Capsicum decoraticus, Capsicum frutescens, Cestrum aurantiacum, Cestrum diurnum, Ce...

Biscuit is one of the illustrious cereal foods; distant from bread, is crucial product for human nutrition generally consumed with tea and is preferred food for infants. Physicochemical analysis and sensory evaluation of blended biscuits prepared from pear, apple, and almond powder were conducted. Dried powder of Apple, Pear, Almond and Wheat were...

Eleven species of lady beetles (Coccinellidae) from Sindh Province, Pakistan are diagnosed: Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, Coccinella undecimpunctata Linnaeus, Coccinella transversalis Fabricius, Harmonia dimidiata (Fabricius), Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), Menochilus sexmaculata (Fabricius), Oenopia mimicaWeise, Micraspis allardi (Mulsant), P...

In the current study some selected plants (Da-tura stramonium, Peganum harmela and Artemisia gimilini) were tested against Tribolium castaneum by the filter paper impregnation method. The selected concentrations of each plant are 5 %, 2.5 %, 1.2 5%, 0.63 % and 0.315 % which are then converted into µg/cm 2 for further estimations. After the conversi...

The current investigation was undertaken to assess the toxic potential of synthetic insecticides (K.Othrin and bio-max) and botanical extracts (Mentha royleana L. and Artemisia absinthium L.) against Tribolium castaneum in the laboratory. Different concentrations of insecticides and botanical extracts were used following complete randomized block d...

Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) occurring in the rugged mountainous landscapes of Central and South Asia, are difficult to survey and conserve due to their straggling habits in remote and inhospitable habitats. The paper presents population estimates and migration trends of Marco Polo sheep in Khunjerab, Pakistan, over 20 years (1992–2012), det...

Due to climate change, the world average surface temperature has increased 0.3-0.6ºC over the past 100 years. The northern belt of Pakistan holds the largest storage of freshwater (ice and snow) after the polar region, and provides water to the downstream population for agriculture plus domestic and hydropower resources. This study focuses on a pos...

Objective To assess the quality of freshwater aquifers (springs) associated diseases, and indigenous perception in Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the department of environmental science, Karakoram International University Gilgit after approval from departmental research committee. In order to get th...

Potato is the main cash crop of Gilgit-Baltistan in particular of buffer zone of Central Karakorum National Park (CKNP). There are many biotic and abiotic threats to its production. Amongst them the black scurf disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani is the major constraint. In order to assess black scurf of potato a comprehensive survey was carried o...

Climate Change is not a stationary phenomenon; it moves from time to time, it represents a major threat to mountainous biodiversity and to ecosystem integrity. The present study is an attempt to identify the current knowledge gap and the effects of climate change on mountainous biodiversity, a special reference to the Gilgit-Baltistan is briefly re...

Present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between vegetation and environmental factors from some forests of dry temperate areas of Himalayan regions of Pakistan. Forty stands were sampled from three districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Ward’s cluster analysis and Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were applied to seek the vegetatio...

Field Studies were carried out on the management of potato mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus, through chemical pesticides; Confidence (Imadachlorpid), Diafinthiuran (Diafinthiuran) and Actera (Thiamethoxam) on seasonal plots of Potato crop at Gilgit Baltistan region during 2014.The pesticide were applied at recommended dose, before the appearance of n...

A Field Studies were carried out for the control of Tomato fruit borer ( Helicoverpa armigera) during July 2014 at District Skardu Baltistan Pakistan. Variety of tomato grown was Shalkot when fruit setting starts in Skardu region we applied chemical insecticide and bio-pesticide at their recommended doses. The aim of investigation is to promote use...

This study aims to provide information about the quality of drinking water of streams and rivers. Streams are taken from study areas of CharkarKote Sai and Damote Sai where for rivers, Gilgit and Hunza River were selected. Physical and chemical parameters were tested accordingly. Temperature and Turbidity were physical parameters, where Electric co...

This study aims to provide information about the quality of drinking water of streams and rivers. Streams are taken from study areas of CharkarKote Sai and Damote Sai where for rivers, Gilgit and Hunza River were selected. Physical and chemical parameters were tested accordingly. Temperature and Turbidity were physical parameters, where Electric co...

Forest is one of the most important and valuable God gifted natural resource. Globally it has a great importance in regulating the functions of the nature. Forests are called lungs of the Earth because they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and oxygen is released into it. This study was conducted using Point Centered Quarter method (PCQ) in...

The current study was aimed to check the functional status and water quality analysis of 56 water purification plants established at district Gilgit. Sampling activity for water quality analysis and functional status was checked during the second week of September 2014. Functional status observed by doing onsite field visits and inspecting various...

The purpose of study was to explore the mosquito fauna of District Narowal of Punjab-Pakistan and to construct identification keys. The selected localities were visited once a week from December 2012 to December 2013. Results showed that the collected specimens belong to 11 species in 4 genera of 2 subfamilies. The species are: Anophelinae: Anophel...

Using dendrochronological methods 15 Himalayan Pine (Pinus wallichiana) tree species were selected to obtain wood sample by Swedish Increment Borer device. Four size classes of mean age of various seedlings, based on two cm interval, showed that the relationship between Dbh classes and actual age was significantly correlated (r =0.544, p<0.01). Dbh...

This paper examine psychological impacts of 2010 Attaabad landslide induced lake on upstream communities of upper Hunza. Natural hazards are unexpected, occur suddenly, and cause widespread damage are understood to be traumatic and associated with a high degree of psychological disturbance. The affected people psychologically are most often seen as...

Solid waste is the unwanted or useless solid materials generated from combined residential, industrial and commercial activities in a given area. This waste must be disposed properly to avoid associated problems. Quantity and Composition determination of solid waste is one of the basic steps towards initiating a sound solid waste management program...

Solid waste is the unwanted or useless solid materials generated from combined residential, industrial and commercial activities in a given area. This waste must be disposed properly to avoid associated problems. Quantity and Composition determination of solid waste is one of the basic steps towards initiating a sound solid waste management program...

The current study was aimed to check the functional status and water quality analysis of 56 water purification plants established at district Gilgit. Sampling activity for water quality analysis and functional status was checked during the second week of September 2014. Functional status observed by doing onsite field visits and inspecting various...

Soil is the most vital non-renewable natural resource, which perform major environmental functions. Soil is an actively living system which consist diversity of micro and macro fauna and flora, which plays major role in maintaining the soil quality. Soil micro organisms are responsible for the decomposition of organic matter in soil, thus soil qual...

Pakistan is located at the crossroads of plate boundaries, experiencing multiple hazards of earthquake, flood, glacier lake outburst flooding, drought, salinization, water-logging and recurrent landslides. This paper attempts to examine the impact of 2010 Attaabad landslide on livelihood of upper stream population of upper Hunza, Pakistan. A total...

This paper examine psychological impacts of 2010 Attaabad landslide induced lake on upstream communities of upper Hunza. Natural hazards are unexpected, occur suddenly, and cause widespread damage are understood to be traumatic and associated with a high degree of psychological disturbance. The affected people psychologically are most often seen as...

Rangelands of Central Karakorum National Park (CKNP) in Gilgit-Baltistan, is regarded as vital ecological resources of Pakistan. The present study was conducted in Hushe Valley of Baltistan during July-August of 2012 to investigate the surface features, distribution of vegetation cover, along altitudinal gradients (~500 m intervals) using quadrate...

Rangelands of Central Karakorum National Park (CKNP) in Gilgit-Baltistan, is regarded as vital ecological resources of Pakistan. The present study was conducted in Hushe Valley of Baltistan during July-August of 2012 to investigate the surface features, distribution of vegetation cover, along altitudinal gradients (~500 m intervals) using quadrate...

Rangelands of Central Karakorum National Park (CKNP) in Gilgit-Baltistan, is regarded as vital ecological resources of Pakistan. The present study was conducted in Hushe Valley of Baltistan during July-August of 2012 to investigate the surface features, distribution of vegetation cover, along altitudinal gradients (~500 m intervals) using quadrate...

Forty stands were sampled to investigate the overall diameter size classes of four dominant tree species of some forests from Gilgit-Baltsitan. On the basis of overall density of individuals of a species the size class structure was derived. Pinus wallichiana A.B.Jacks .occupied 128±21.1 mean stems ha-1, Picea smithiana (Wall.)Boiss. attained 121±5...

Abstract The present investigation was carried out to determine the effects of two very important parameters i.e. salinity and micro-algal diets on the growth and survival of Artemia sinica. The animal was obtained in encysted form from Bohai Bay P.R. China, after 14 days constantly cultured (rearing trial) in laboratory with five different salinit...

The present investigation was carried out to determine the effects of two very important parameters i.e. salinity and micro-algal diets on the growth and survival of Artemia sinica. The animal was obtained in encysted form from Bohai Bay P.R. China, after 14 days constantly cultured (rearing trial) in laboratory with five different salinities. At t...

Soil quality comprises of Physio-chemical and biological properties can be used for investigating the soil health. Soil health is important to support animal and plant productivity for sustainable management of agro ecosystem. The physiochemical properties and fertility status of Altit Hunza soils District Hunza-Nagar of Pakistan were investigated...

Soil is one of the most essential and diverse natural habitat of biodiversity on earth. Soil organisms (biota) carry out a wide range of processes that are important for soil health and fertility in both natural and managed agricultural soils. Total number of organisms, diversity of species and the activity of the soil biota will fluctuate as the s...

Five medicinal plants of belonging to families, Cupressaceae, Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, Polygononaceae and Saxifragaceae were investigated for the presence of secondary metabolites namely alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinone (free and as glycosides) ascorbic acid , carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins, saponins and steroids i...

The study addressed the influence of seasons and land use on soil microarthropod communities. Soil fauna were grouped into three categories, i.e., Collembola (20%), Acari (59%) and other microarthropods (21%). The densities of total microarthropod, Collembola, and Acari were highly significant with seasons. Shannon Index and QBS-ar were also signif...

Ring-width chronology of 211 years (AD 1730-2010) was developed using Himalayan Pine (Pinus wallichiana) collected from Ganji Skardu mono-specific Pinus wallichiana forest near the mix forest of Pinus wallichiana, Juniperus excelsa and Betula utilis on different aspect and slope angle. Chronology statistics showed that Pinus wallichiana have the pa...

An attempt was made to evaluate the parasitic load in vegetables grown organically is Majini Muhallah Gilgit, Pakistan. During this study Majini Muhallah was divided into three sectors. Six vegetables including Spinach (Spinacia oleracea), Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Lettuce (Lactuca sativa), Radish (Raphanus sativus), Sonchual (Malva verticillata...

This research aims to investigate the relationship between environmental degradation focusing on water pollution in three different tourism spots (Hunza-Nager, Bagrote Valley and Haramosh Valley) highly touristic, medium touristic and low touristic areas respectively in the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) area. The potential drinking water s...

Berberis, an important genus belonging to family Berberidaceae, comprises of approximately 500 species. Berberis species (spp.) are perennially deciduous and evergreen shrub; with a thick woody spiny shoot. Different Berberis spp. and their parts are commonly used in Eastern, Ayurvedic, Unani and modern system of medicines. Berberis spp. are tradit...

The Concentrations and distributions levels of six heavy metals (Cu, Zn Ni, Mn, Fe and Pb) were recorded in bodies/soft tissues of oysters obtained, between November 2005 and October 2006 from three polluted areas along Karachi, Pakistan coastal zone namely; Gizri, Korangi creek and Manora. The accumulation patterns of different metals with referen...

The Concentrations and distributions levels of six heavy metals (Cu, Zn Ni, Mn, Fe and Pb) were recorded in bodies/soft tissues of oysters obtained, between November 2005 and October 2006 from three polluted areas along Karachi, Pakistan coastal zone namely; Gizri, Korangi creek and Manora. The accumulation patterns of different metals with referen...

The acute toxicity of five phenolic compounds each to 15 d old Artemia sinica was determined in this study. The brine shrimp A. sinica was hatched from the encysted dry eggs (Bohai Bay Brand) produced by Dongying Ocean Artemia Co., Ltd., China at 27A degrees C +/- 1A degrees C in pre-filtered (through pores of 0.45 mu m in diameter) and autoclaved...

Berberis, a member of family Berberidaceae serves as ‘wildlife-clinic’ in nature. Berberis pseudumbellata subsp. gilgitica is endemic to the area and has become critically endangered. For the first time research documented unique epigenetic behaviour of different mountain wildlife and zoopharmacological practices of traditional communities from CKN...

Berberis, a member of family Berberidaceae serves as 'wildlife-clinic' in nature. Berberis pseudumbellata subsp. gilgitica is endemic to the area and has become critically endangered. For the first time research documented unique epigenetic behaviour of different mountain wildlife and zoopharmacological practices of traditional communities from CKN...

The baseline study of the flora of Central Karakorum National Park (CKNP) was carried out by field's trips conduct in the different seasons of the years. The study area was thoroughly surveyed throughout the year to ensure the collection of maximum diversity. The current study focus to the flowering biodiversity exists in the study area. For this p...

Ring-width chronology of 211 years (AD 1730-2010) was developed using Himalayan Pine (Pinus wallichiana) collected from Ganji Skardu mono-specific Pinus wallichiana forest near the mix forest of Pinus wallichiana, Juniperus excelsa and Betula utilis on different aspect and slope angle. Chronology statistics showed that Pinus wallichiana have the pa...

The current baseline study of agro-diversity was carried out in the different seasons of the year 2013. The study area was thoroughly surveyed throughout the year to ensure the collection of maximum agro diversity. The current study focus to provide inventory of 74 cultivated flowering plant diversity exists in the study area. For this purpose we c...

Coliform bacteria have been used to evaluate the general quality of water. These bacteria can be found in the gut of both warm and cold-blooded organisms. Fecal coliform is a subset of this group. They have been characterized to grow at elevated temperatures and specifically associated with the fecal material of warm-blooded animals. Gilgit River w...

Berberis, a member of family Berberidaceae serves as 'wildlife-clinic' in nature. Berberis pseudumbellata subsp. gilgitica is endemic to the area and has become critically endangered. For the first time research documented unique epigenetic behaviour of different mountain wildlife and zoopharmacological practices of traditional communities from CKN...

This research aims to investigate the relationship between environmental degradation focusing on water pollution in three different tourism spots (Hunza-Nager, Bagrote Valley and Haramosh Valley) highly touristic, medium touristic and low touristic areas respectively in the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) area. The potential drinking water s...

This study was carried out in Oshikandas valley to evaluate the population load of targeted parasites (Ascaris lumbricadi, Trichuris trichuria, Giardi lamblia, Cryptospridium) in pit latrine samples. The sanitation facilities in the study area were not up to the mark, so, the inhabitants of the village are more prone to gastrointestinal diseases. I...

Forty stands were sampled to investigate the overall diameter size classes of four dominant tree species of some forests from Gilgit-Baltsitan. On the basis of overall density of individuals of a species the size class structure was derived. Pinus wallichiana A.B.Jacks .occupied 128±21.1 mean stems ha-1 , Picea smithiana (Wall.)Boiss. attained 121±...