Abstract
This information is shared with great sorrow and sadness that Dr. Mohammad Ahmed Maqbool, a world
renowned plant Nematologist and a dedicated scientist has passed away on July 31, 2016 at his residence
Nazimabad, Karachi, Pakistan. He was buried in a graveyard adjacent to his residence in Karachi.
Dr. Maqbool was born in Allahabad, India on March 10, 1941. His family migrated to Pakistan in 1947. He
obtained B.Sc. degrees from the University of Karachi in 1960 and M.Sc. in Agriculture from the Sindh Agriculture
College (now University), Tandojam in 1962. He started his career in the subject of Nematology from Agriculture
Research Institute, Tandojam in 1962. He joined the University of Karachi in 1973 and with the active support of
the then Vie Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mahmood Hussain and the Dean Faculty of Science, Prof. Dr. Zainul-Abidin
established Nematology laboratory. The lab is now recognized as National Nematological Research Centre and is a
part of the University of Karachi. He founded Pakistan Society of Nematologists and started publication of Pakistan
Journal of Nematology in 1983. He received advance training in Nematology from USDA, Beltsville, Maryland,
USA with Dr. Golden and his team, CAB Institute of Parasitology, St. Albans and Rothamsted Experimental
Station, Harpenden, Herts, UK. He also organized seminars and training courses and international workshops in
collaboration with Govt. of Sindh, Govt. of Pakistan, PARC, USDA and FAO.
He spent most of his life in research and completed many national research projects funded by Pakistan Science
Foundation, University Grant Commission, Higher Education Commission and others national funding agencies. He
had organized, participated and presented his research work in many International and National Science
Conferences. He was also the member of several scientific societies like Society of Nematologists, Pakistan Society
of Nematologists, Pakistan Phytopathological Society, Pakistan Botanical Society, Scientific Society of Pakistan,
etc.
Five students for PhD including Prof. Dr. Shahina Fayyaz, Dr. Zarina Begum, Dr. Nasira Qazi, Dr. Firoza Qazi
and Dr. Muhammad Abid completed their theses under his supervision. He published more than 200 research papers
in National and International scientific journals. He wrote seven book chapters and was author of 10 books and
booklets, co-author of four books and monographs and co-editor of five international workshop proceedings.
He left four sons, two daughters and eighteen grandchildren. May God bless his soul with eternal peace in
heaven and give patience and courage to his family. Aameen!
