OBITUARY
Professor Dr. Abdul Ghaffar
(23rd August, 1932 - 10th August, 2015)
An eminent Plant Pathologist Prof. Dr. Abdul Ghaffar s/o Haji Mohammad Mustafa left this mortal world on August 10, 2015. Dr. Ghaffar was born on 23rd August 1932 at Allahabad, India. He obtained his B.Sc. degree from the University of Allahabad, India in 1950 and M.Sc. from the University of Karachi, Pakistan in 1955. Dr. Ghaffar completed his Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. C.J. Hickman in 1960 from the University of Birmingham, UK where he worked on the “Biological control of Scelrotium cepivorum Brek., the cause of white rot of onion”. He became a Fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences in 1993, and the Third World Academy of Sciences in 1997.
Dr. Ghaffar started his carrier as Assistant Mycologist/ Assistant Plant Pathologist at the Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Pakistan, Malir Halt, Karachi in 1950. He joined the Department of Botany, University of Karachi as Assistant Professor in 1962, became Associate Professor in 1971, and Professor in 1978. Dr. Ghaffar served as the Chairman of the Department from 1978 to 1992 and again from 1986 to 1992 i.e. till his retirement. He also served the University as Director National Nematological Research Centre during 1987-1989, and Director M.A.H. Qadri Biological Research Centre during 1990-1992.
Dr. Ghaffar was a member of British Mycological Society and American Phytopathological Society, and life member of Pakistan Botanical Society, Pakistan Phytopathological Society, Pakistan Nematological Society and Scientific Society of Pakistan. During his three post-doctoral fellowships under SEATO, Royal Society Nutffield Foundation Bursary, and Fulbright Hays Scholarship Programs, Dr. Ghaffar worked with legendary Plant Pathologists Dr. G.A. Zentmyer, Dr. D.C. Erwin, Dr. J.R. Coley-Smith, Dr. R. Baker, Dr. Henis, and a renowned Mycologist Dr. B.C. Sutton.
The main focus of Dr. Ghaffar’s research was on the control of soil-borne root infecting fungi, especially the biological, cultural and integrated control of sclerotial fungi. He served as Principal Investigator of several research projects funded by national and international funding agencies. In addition to two M.Phil. scholars, at least 16 scholars completed their Ph.D. dissertations under his supervision. Dr. Ghaffar had more than 250 research publications to his credit and also co-authored 6 books related to plant pathology and nematology. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the agricultural research, a Gold Medal and a Certificate of Merit were awarded to Dr. Ghaffar by PARC/USDA in 1985. He also participated in several national and international conferences on Botany and Plant Pathology.
One of the major contributions of Dr. Ghaffar is the timely publication of Pakistan Journal of Botany during his 40 years tenure as the Chief Editor. His continuous and tireless efforts are the main reason for the present prestigious position of the Pakistan Journal of Botany amongst the scientific journals published from Pakistan. He was also Chief Editor of Pakistan Journal of Nematology since 1983.
Dr. Ghaffar had a simple, polite and loving nature. He was always kind to his students and juniors. His sad demise is an irreparable loss to his family, friends, colleagues and students. May the Almighty Allah rest his soul in eternal piece in heaven (Amen).
Saleem Shahzad
Department of Agriculture & Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270.