CURRICULUM VITAE

Name: Father’s name:

Habib-ur-Rehman Athar Hafeez Ahmad
NIC No. Religion:
33202-1319534-3 Islam
Date of Birth: Place of Birth:
29-3-1975 Jhang
Domicile
Jhang (Punjab)
Sex: Marital Status:
Male Married (One daughter,
one son)
Permanent address Mohallah Hassan Nager St. No.2, Near Octroi Post no. 13, Jhang Sadar
Residential address C-39, Staff Colony, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan Pakistan
Postal Address Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan,
Pakistan
Phone No. Mobile
92-61-4745440 +92-0322-6107540
e-mail habibathar@yahoo.com Passport No. AB-1445341
habibathar@bzu.edu.pk
Web address: http://www.bzu.edu.pk/faculty/profile.asp?id=122
HEC approved http://aphds.hec.gov.pk/sup_sch_lists/supdetailview.asp?supid=2915
supervisor
Publications & http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-8717-2008
Citations
Researcher ID
Google scholar http://scholar.google.com.pk/citations?user=hH98HAoAAAAJ
citations  
QUALIFICATION
Degree Year Subjects Marks Division/ Board / University
Passing Obtained Grade
Matric 1992  Phy. Bio. 673 / 850 1st Faisalabad Board, Pakistan
Che. Math. 79.17 % A
F.Sc (Pre-medical) 1994 Phy. Bio. 699 / 1100 1st Faisalabad Board, Pakistan
Che. 63.54 % B
B. Sc (medical) 1996 Zool. Bot. 484 / 800 1st Punjab University, Lahore,
Chem. 60.5 % B Pakistan
M. Sc 1999 Botany 824 / 1200 1st Bahauddin Zakariya
(Botany) 68.66 % B University, Multan, Pakistan
  M. Phil. 2001 Biotech. 562 / 700 1st Quaid-i-Azam University,
(Biotechnology) 82 % A Islamabad, Pakistan
(4.1CGPA)
Ph.D 2009 Botany 504/640 University of Agriculture,
78.75% Faisalabad, Pakistan
3.78 CGPA
Postdoc 2012 Botany The University of Manchester,
UK
 
Honors and Activities
 Awarded postdoc scholarship for one year at University of Manchester, UK
 Awarded 0.250 million Pak rupees as Research Productivity Award (RPA) in category ‘B’ for the
year 2010 in May, 2012
 Awarded 0.15 million Pak rupees as Research Productivity Allowance (RPA) in category ‘D’ for the
year 2009 in May, 2011
 Ranked at 48 as productive scientist in Biological Sciences (2010) by Pakistan Council for Science and
Technology
 Ranked at 41 as productive scientist in Biological Sciences (2007) by Pakistan Council for Science and
Technology
 Ranked at 585 and 138 as productive scientist in general and Biological Sciences (2004) by Pakistan
Council for Science and Technology, respectively
 HEC approved supervisor for PhD
 Indigenous PhD scholarship (2004) from Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan
 UGC (HEC) scholarship in M.Phil Biotechnology 1999
 UGC scholarship in B.Sc 1995. President Talent Award Scheme
 Stood first in B.Sc (October, 1996) in Government College Jhang
 Life member of Pakistan Botanical Society, Pakistan
 Moderator of “Plantstress” discussion group having more than 1350 members worldwide including
PhD scholars and eminent scientists in the field of Plant Stress Physiology and Molecular Biology
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/plantstress/ )
 First instructor for Biotechnology as optional course in M.Sc Botany, at IPAB, BZU, Multan, Pakistan
 International publications 33; Review 1; Book Chapter 3;
Edited Books 1; Edited Proceedings 1; Patent 2
 Impact factor 44.85; ISI Citation 376; Google citation 636
 Help in developing/characterization/registration of salt tolerant spring wheat line S-24 in Journal of
Plant Registrations; Acknowledged
 Twelve year teaching and research experience in Plant Stress Physiology and molecular biology
 Being supervised 5 Ph.D Botany students; Supervised 6 M.Phil Botany students
 Supervised 13 M.Sc Botany students; Supervised 11 BS-Botany (4-year) students
 Supervised 4 B.Sc (Hons.) Botany

Patents
1 A herbal antioxidant system for oil stability: Pakistan Patent Number 140293. Date of Patent Grant
02.10.2009.
Shahid Iqbal, Muhammad Iqbal Bhanger, Mubeena Akhtar, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar,
Mehajabeen, and Zahid Khan. 2009. A process for preparation of a herbal composition useful
as stabilizer for edible oil. Pakistan Patent Number 140293. Date of Patent Grant 02.10.2009;
Date of patent sealing 30-03-2010
2 A process of preparation of herbal composition for treating diabetes mellitus Pakistan patent number
140727. Date of patent grant 25.11.2009
Mehjabeen, Shakeel Ahmad, Noor Jehan, Sagheer Ahmad, and Habib-ur-Rehman Athar. 2009. A
process of preparation of herbal composition for treating diabetes mellitus. Pakistan Patent Number
140727. Date of Patent Grant 25.11.2009. Date of Patent Sealing 20.07.2011
Edited Books
Ashraf, M., Ozturk, M. Athar, H.R. 2009. Salinity and water stress: Improving crop efficiency. Springer
Verlag, Berlin.
Book Chapters in Edited Books
  Athar, H. R. and Ashraf, M. 2005. Photosynthesis under Drought Stress. Pp. 841-867. (Book
Chapter). In: Handbook of Photosynthesis. 2nd Ed. M. Pessarakli, Marcel and Dekker (Eds.),
Taylor and Francis, Inc., New York, USA [Citation 8].
 Ashraf, M., Nawaz, K., Athar, H.R., and Raza, S.H. 2008. Growth enhancement in two potential
cereal crops, maize and wheat, by exogenous application of glycinebetaine. In: Abdelly C.,
Öztürk M., Ashraf M., and Grignon C. (eds). Biosaline agriculture and High salinity tolerance.
Birkhäuser Basel. Pp, 21-35.
 Athar, H. R. and M. Ashraf. 2009. Strategies for crop Improvement against salinity and water
stress: An Overview. In: Ashraf, M., Ozturk, M. and Athar, H.R. (eds). Salinity and water stress:
Improving crop efficiency. Springer-Verlag, The Netherlands Pp, 1-16

Guest Editor Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2006, Vol. 38 (5) Special Issue

International Publications
1. Ashraf, M and Habib-ur-Rehman (1999) Interactive effects of nitrate and long-term waterlogging on
growth, water relations and gas exchange properties of maize. Plant Science, 144(1):35-43.
(USA). [Impact factor 2.05; citation 13]
2. Ashraf, M and Habib-ur-Rehman (1999) Mineral nutrient status of corn in relation to nitrate and long
term waterlogging. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 20(8): 1253 -1268. (USA). [Impact factor
0.512; citation 3]
3. Raza, S.H., Athar, H.R., and Ashraf, M. 2006. Influence of Exogenously Applied Glycinebetaine on
the Photosynthetic Capacity of Two Differently Adapted Wheat Cultivars under Salt Stress.
Pak. J. Bot. 38 (2) 341-352 (Pakistan) [Impact factor 0.52; citation 25]
4. Waseem, M., Athar, H.R., and Ashraf, M. 2006. Effect of salicylic acid applied through rooting
medium on drought tolerance of wheat. Pak. J. Bot. 38(4):1127-1136 (Pakistan) [Impact factor
0.293; citation 12]
5. Abdallah Atia, Ahmed Debez, Mokded Rabhi, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar, and Chedly Abdelly –
2006. Alleviation of salt-induced seed dormancy in the perennial halophyte
Crithmum maritimum L. (Apiaceae). . Pak J Bot., 38(5): 1367-1372 [Impact factor 0.293;
citation 1]
6. Bechir Ben Rouina, Chedlia Ben Ahmed, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar, and M. Boukhriss – 2006. Water
relations, proline accumulation and photosynthetic activity in olive tree (Olea europaea L. cv
“Chemlali”) in response to salt stress. Pak J Bot., 38(5): 1397-1406 [Impact factor 0.293;
citation 2]
7. Ameer Khan, Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar and Muhammad Ashraf –
2006. Interactive effect of foliar applied ascorbic acid and salt stress on wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.) at seedling stage. Pak J Bot., 38(5): 1407-1414 [Impact factor 0.293; citation 0]
8. Chedlia Ben Ahmed, B. Ben Rouina, Habib-Ur-Rehman Athar, M. Boukhriss – 2006. Olive tree
(Olea europaea L. cv. “Chemlali”) under salt stress: water relations and ions content. Pak J
Bot., 38(5): 1477-1484 [Impact factor 0.293; citation 1]
9. Roubina Kauser, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar, and Muhammad Ashraf – 2006. Chlorophyll
fluorescence can be used as a potential indicator for rapid assessment of water stress tolerance in
canola (Brassica napus L.). Pak J Bot., 38(5):1501-1509 [Impact factor 0.293; citation 7]
10. Muhammad Ibrahim, Ambreen Anjum, Nabeela Khaliq, Muhammad Iqbal and Habib-ur-Rehman
Athar – 2006. Four foliar applications of glycinebetaine did not alleviate adverse effects of salt
stress on growth of sunflower. Pak J Bot., 38(5):1561-1569 [Impact factor 0.293; citation 1]
11. Nudrat Aisha Akram, Muhammad Shahbaz, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar, and Muhammad Ashraf –
2006. Morpho-physiological responses of two differently adapted populations of Cynodon
dactylon (L.) Pers. and Cenchrus ciliaris L. to salt stress. Pak J Bot., 38(5):1581-1588 [Impact
factor 0.293; citation 1]
12. Qasim Ali, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar and Muhammad Ashraf – 2006. Mineral nutrient status of two
wheat cultivars as influenced by brassinosteroids and salt stress. Pak J Bot., 38(5):1621-1632
[Impact factor 0.293; citation 3]
13. Muhammad Saeed Akram, Qasim Ali, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar and Ahmed Saeed Bhatti – 2006.
Ion uptake and distribution in Panicum antidotale Retz. under salt stress. Pak J Bot.,
38(5):1661-1669 [Impact factor 0.293; citation 1]
14. Qasim Ali, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar and Muhammad Ashraf - 2006. Ion transport in four canola
cultivars as influenced by salt stress. Pak J Bot., 38(5):1703-1708 [Impact factor 0.293;
citation 1]
15. Akram, M.S., Athar, H.R., and Ashraf, M. 2007. Improving growth and yield of sunflower
(Helianthus annuus L.) by foliar application of potassium hydroxide (KOH) under salt stress.
Pak J Bot. 39 (3): 769-776. [Impact factor 0.293; citation 3]
16. Arfan, M, Athar, H.R., and Ashraf, M. 2007. Does exogenous application of salicylic acid through the
rooting medium modulate growth and photosynthetic capacity in two differently adapted spring
wheat cultivars under salt stress? Journal of Plant Physiology. 6(4):685-694 (Germany)
[Impact factor 2.321; Citation 17]
17. Raza, S.H., Athar, H.R., Ashraf, M., and Hameed, A. 2007. GB-induced modulation of antioxidant
enzymes activities and ion accumulation in two wheat cultivars differing in salt tolerance.
Environmental and Experimental Botany. 60: 368-376 (USA) [Impact factor 1.82; Citation
15]
18. Ashraf, M., Nawazish, S., and Athar, H.R. 2007. Are chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic
capacity, potential physiological determinants of drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.)?
Pakistan Journal of Botany. 39(4): 1123-1131 [Impact factor 0.293; citation 1]
19. Qasim Ali, Muhammad Ashraf and Habib-ur-Rehman Athar. 2007. Exogenously applied proline at
different growth stages enhances growth of two maize cultivars grown under water deficit
conditions. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 39(4):1133-1144 [Impact factor 0.293; citation 1]
20. Mobina Ulfat, Habib-ur-Rehman Athar, Muhammad Ashraf, Nudrat Aisha Akram, and Amer Jamil.
2007. Screening of canola (Brassica napus L.) germplasm for salt tolerance using some
physiological and biochemical attributes. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 39 (5):1593-1608 [Impact
factor 0.293; citation 9]
21. Athar, H.R., Khan, A., and Ashraf, M. 2008. Exogenously applied ascorbic acid alleviates salt-
induced oxidative stress in wheat. Env. Exp Bot. 63:224-231[Impact factor 1.81; citation 7]
22. Muhammad Shahbaz, Muhammad Ashraf, and Habib-ur-Rehman Athar. 2008. Does exogenous
application of 24-epibrassinolide ameliorate salt induced growth inhibition in wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.)? Plant Growth Regulation. 55: 51-64. [Impact factor 1.09; citation 7]
23. Ashraf, M., Athar, H.R., Harris, P.J.C., and Kwon, T.R. 2008. Some prospective strategies for
improving crop salt tolerance. Adv. Agron. 97:45-110 [Impact factor 2.14; citation 22]
24. Ali, Q., Athar, H.R., and Ashraf, M. 2008. Modulation of growth, photosynthetic capacity and water
relations in salt stressed wheat plants by exogenously applied 24-epibrassinolide. Plant Growth
Regulation. 56:107-116 [Impact factor 1.09; citation 3]
25. Athar, H.R., Khan, A., and Ashraf, M. 2009. Inducing salt tolerance in wheat by exogenously applied
ascorbic acid through different modes. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 32:1-19 [Impact factor
0.593; citation 0]
26. Abida Rehman, Haq Nawaz Bhatti, and Habib-ur-Rehman Athar. 2009. Textile Effluents Affected
Seed Germination and Early Growth of Some Winter Vegetable Crops: A Case Study. Water,
Air and Soil Pollution. 198: 155-163. [Impact factor 1.224; citation 0]
27. Athar, H.R., Ashraf, M., Wahid, A., and Jamil, A. 2009. Inducing salt tolerance in canola (Brassica
napus L.) by exogenously applied glycinebetaine and praline: Response at the initial growth
stages. Pak J Bot. 41(3):1311-1319
28. Arif, M.H., Ashraf, M and Athar, H.R.,. 2009. Influence of nickel stress on growth and some
important physiological/biochemical attributes in some diverse canola (Brassica napus L.)
cultivars. Journal of Hzardous Materials 172:964-969
29. Zafar, Z. U., Athar, H. R., and Ashraf, M. 2010. Responses of two cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
cultivars differing in resistance to leaf curl virus disease to nitrogen Nutrition (Gossypium
hirsutum L.)? Pak J Bot 40(3):2085-2094
30. Shaikh, R.S., Amir, M., Masood, A.I., Sohail, A., Athar, H.R., Siraj, S., Ali, M., Anjam, M. S. 2010.
Frequency distribution of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null allele in Pakistani population and risk of
disease incidence. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 30: 76–79
31. Mokded RABHI, Najoua KARRAY-BOURAOUI, Refka MEDINI, Houneida ATTIA,
Habib-ur-Rehman ATHAR, Chedly ABDELLY and Abderrazak SMAOUI. 2010. Seasonal
variations in phytodesalination capacity of two perennial halophytes in their natural biotope J
BIOL RES-THESSALON. 14:181-189
32. Habib-ur-Rehman Athar, Abdur-Rauf Bhatti, Nahida Bashir, Zafar Ullah Zafar, Abida and Amjad
Farooq. 2011. Modulating infestation rate of white fly (bemicia tabaci) on okra (Hibiscus
escuentus L.) by nitrogen application. Acta Physiologia Plantarum. 33:843-850

Conferences/Seminar/Symposia/Workshop attended
 International Seminar on “New horizons in DNA Technology” October 30, 2000, Center of
Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad,
Pakistan.
 7th National Conference of Plant Scientists, November 14-16, 2000, Department of Botany,
University of Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore-54590, Pakistan.
 8th National Conference of Plant Scientists, February, 24-29, 2003, Department of Botany,
University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
 Second National Conference of Biological Sciences organised by Pakistan Biological Society held
at GC University, Lahore from April 22-24, 2004.
 3rd Workshop on Production technology for Wheat and Sugarcane crop improvement Organized
by Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute
Faisalabad on March 16, 2005.
 Intentional Conference On Biotechnology For Salinity And Drought Tolerance In Plants
organized by National Commission on Biotechnology (NCB), National Institute for
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), PAEC in collaboration with COMSTECH,
HEC, IAEA & USNSF held during 28-31 March 2005, Islamabad, Pakistan.
 International Training Workshop on Biosaline Agriculture Technology held at Nuclear Institute
for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, Pakistan on February 06-17, 2006.
 Plant Science Conference on, “Application of Plant Sciences in Emerging Scenario” 18-20
February, 2006 at Department of Botany, GC University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
 International Conference on Biosaline Agriculture & High Salinity Tolerance (ICBA-HST)
organized by The Laboratory of Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stresses (LAPSA), Biotechnology
Center at the Technopark of Borj-Cédria (CBBC), BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia held at
Gammarth, Tunis (Tunisia) on 3-8 November, 2006.
 11th National and 2nd International Conference of Plant Scientists, February, 21-23 2011,
Department of Botany, GC University Lahore Pakistan.
 Academic workshop on “Effective PhD supervision” held at The Islamia University Bahawalpur
from 15-17th March, 2011 organized by Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad
 Hands on Training on Modern techniques in research in abiotic stress tolerance in plants held at
NIAB, Faisalabad from 5-9th September, 2011
 One day workshop on “Mastering in Endnote” held at the Department of Computer Science
Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan on April, 2011.
 TOT workshop on “Test item construction techniques” held at The Islamia University Bahawalpur
from 23rd-26th January, 2012 organized by National Testing Services (NTS) and Higher Education
Commission (HEC), Islamabad.

Employment Record
Employer’s Name Designation Scale of Pay Period of service
      From To
National Institute for Biotechnology Research Fellow in Not 16-09-1999 14-01-2001
and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Cotton Biotechnology Applicable
Faisalabad Project
National Agricultural Research Scientific Officer BPS-17 15-01-2001 18-04-2001
Center (NARC), Islamabad
Bahauddin Zakariya University, Lecturer BPS-17 26-04-2001 11.08.2007
Multan
Bahauddin Zakariya University, Assistant Professor BPS-19 12-08-2007 Contd.
Multan

Citation (100 words)

Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman Athar had been contributed in uncovering the toxic effects of long-term hypoxic
conditions and supplemental nitrate nitrogen at whole plant level. Moreover, he contributed in unraveling
mechanism of salt tolerance in crop plants as well as inducing salt tolerance in important crops using
shotgun approaches. The work so produced/published at international forum is being frequently cited by
different eminent scientists of the world.