Faculty of Science and Technology(Department of Botany)

36 

GC University Lahore GCU Prospectus 2011 

Faculty of Science and Technology 

(Department of Botany) 

Introduction 

The Department of Botany is one of the oldest 

departments of GC University Lahore, imparting 

instructions at undergraduate, graduate and 

postgraduate level since 1912. Among the 

prominent scholars, Prof. Shiv Ram Kashyap, 

Professors of stature, Prof. S.L. Ghose, Prof. A.C. 

Joshi, lead this Department. After the 

Independence of the Subcontinent, Dr. A.A. 

Qureshi, Dr. Sultan Ahmed, a Mycologist and 

Taxonomist of international repute, Prof. A.R. 

Zafar, Prof. A.H. Zafar, Prof. Jawad A. Khan, Prof. 

Masud-ul-Hasan, Dr. R.A. Mirza and Prof. A. U. 

Khan promoted the culture of research and 

development. 

The Department of Botany is recognized as a 

leading provider of quality education supported 

by relevant experience of staff and the 

dissemination of leading edge research. Staff 

members are committed to provide ample 

opportunities for students to develop those skills 

that are keenly sought by employers. 

The famous saying that "All Flesh is Grass" reflects 

its significance of Botany in the biosphere. It began 

with tribal lore, to identify edible, medicinal and 

poisonous plants for a number of reasons; they 

generate oxygen and provide food, fibres, fuel and 

medicine for life forms to exist on earth. An 

understanding of Botany can help to: 

Become a researcher or teacher in a research 

and/or academic institution. 

lUnderstand fundamentals of life processes in 

living organisms to produce more food and 

fibre for population using healthier and better 

hybrid seeds of crops harvested through plant 

breeding and genetics. 

lDepict environmental changes through the 

use of plants as bioindicators and protect 

plants and endangered plant species through 

biodiversity conservation techniques. 

lProvide link between academia and industry. 

lManage sustainable agriculture, forestry and 

horticulture with efficacy. 

Academic Programmes 

The Department offers a popular set of 

undergraduate and postgraduate courses. 

Graduates from other disciplines are also able to 

pursue different allied courses to accomplish their 

intensive programmes of study. At present, 

following degrees programmes are being offered 

by the Department of Botany: 

lBSc(Hons.) 

lMPhil 

lPhD 

Research Groups 

The Department has established research groups 

in the following areas: 

lBiodiversity-I (Thallophyta) 

lBiodiversity-ll (Tracheophyta-Taxonomy and 

Chemotaxonomy) 

lBiodiversity-Ill (Ethnobotany) 

lApplied Plant Anatomy: Dendrochronology 

lStress Physiology 

lEnvironmental Botany 

lPlant Tissue Culture 

lBiochemistry 

lBiotechnology 

lPhycology 

lPlant Molecular Biology 

Facilities 

Laboratories 

The Department has six General Labs., a Tissue

GCU Prospectus 2011 

GC University Lahore 

37 

Culture Lab., Plant Biotechnology/Mole. Biol. 

Lab, Biodiversity Lab., Dandrochronology Lab., 

Phycology Lab., Plant Physiology and Ecology Lab. 

It is planned to establish a separate Molecular 

Biology Lab., Genetics lab., and Phytopathology 

lab. 

Life Sciences Library 

The GC University Life Sciences Library has a rich 

and updated collection of books and research 

journals including several volumes of the Linnaean 

Society. The Library holds extensive research 

material on various subjects like Plant 

Morphology (Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, 

Gymnosperms and Angiosperms), Genetic 

Engineering, Crop Improvement and 

Environmental Studies, etc. 

Computers and Internet 

Students and faculty members have provision of 

computer and internet facility being linked with 

the digital libraries across the Globe. 

Dr. Sultan Ahmad Herbarium 

The herbarium was established under the aegis of 

Prof. S.R. Kashyap in the early 1900s. Under the 

chairpersonship of Prof. A.U.Khan, the herbarium 

was officially inaugurated as "Dr. Sultan Ahmed 

Herbarium" in 2003. The collection at the 

herbarium is notable for it holds specimens dating 

back to 1912. The herbarium offers support to 

institutions and organizations in the field of Botany 

by making its treasure trove of plant material and 

specimens available to all researchers. Presently, 

the herbarium has numerous identified plants 

mounted on sheets and the addition of specimens 

is being continued. 

Kashyap Museum 

Another contribution of the Department by Prof. 

Kashyap's was the establishment of a museum in 

the Department. Prof. Kashyap took keen interest 

in the collection of plant specimens, not only from 

Subcontinent, but also from China, Indonesia, UK 

and Philippines. A large number of specimens 

have been added to the collection. 

GCU Botanic Garden 

The GCU Botanic Garden is being managed by 

the Department since 1912. It covers an area of 

seven acres dedicated for research and study 

purposes. Since its establishment, the Botanic 

Garden has been properly looked after and well 

kept. It includes a number of wild flora as well as 

exotic and rare species. Presently, the Botanic 

Garden is home to 700 species. An index of the 

plant species present in the Garden entitled 

"Catalogue of Plants of GC University Lahore 

Botanic Garden" and a concise booklet entitled "A 

Brief Guide to Government College Lahore 

Botanic Garden" provides useful information. 

Establishment of Pakistan Botanic Gardens 

Network (PBGN) Secretariat at Botanic Garden 

GCU is a great achievement which facilitates to 

collect information from a variety of habitat and 

technical expertise from skilled persons of the 

member Botanic Gardens. It also help as a forum 

to exchange germplasm and genetic resources 

throughout Pakistan. 

The establishment of the Herbal Plot in the 

Garden is another step towards improving and 

increasing the collection at the Botanic Garden. A 

green house, experimental field, plant breeding 

enclosures and an open-top chamber system is 

present at the GCU Botanic Garden to facilitate 

research activities. We also have a seed bank at 

Botanic Garden, where we conserve 

germplasm of economically important plant 

species. 

Scholarships 

Two merit scholarships by the title of "Class of 

1985" are currently available for BSc (Hons.) final 

year students. 

Gold Medal 

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Choudhry Gold Medal is 

available for BSc (Hons.) final year students. 

Special Features 

Societies 

Biological Society of Pakistan 

The Biological Society was established in 1954. 

The founding members of the Society are Dr. 

Sultan Ahmad, Dr. Muzzafar Ahmed, Dr. Abu 

Bakar, Prof. Ahsan-ul-Islam and Prof. Waiz 

Hussain Bokhari. The Society launched research 

journal "Biologia" in June, 1955. Today, the journal 

is subscribed by libraries in the UK, the US, 

Canada, Indonesia, Brazil, Jordan, Sudan, France, 

Saudi Arabia, India and The Netherlands. 

Horticultural Society 

Horticultural Society is exclusively run under the 

umbrella of Department of Botany. It provides a 

healthy opportunity for its members to organize 

and participate in different seasonal flower shows 

and exhibitions and invite others to its dry and 

fresh flower arrangement competitions. 

Grounds and Gardens 

Maintenance of University Grounds and Gardens 

is another important responsibility of Department 

of Botany. The present fascinating landscape of 

the GCU campus is a beautiful contribution of The 

Department of Botany. 

Agricultural Development at Kala Shah 

Kaku Campus 

Development of agriculture and landscaping at 


(Department of Botany)

38 GC University Lahore GCU Prospectus 2011 



Kala Shah Kaku Campus is being executed by 

Department of Botany. 

Research Journal 

The department, in coordination with 

Department of Zoology has been publishing its 

research journal "Biologia" since 1955. This 

journal is an official organ of the Biological Society 

of Pakistan which is headquartered here at GC 

University Lahore. 

Collaborations 

The Department has built strong collaborations 

with many national and international institutions, 

Universities and Organizations like Royal Botanic 

Gardens, Kew, England; Gondwana Tree-Ring 

Laboratory New Zealand; Agriculture University, 

Peshawar; Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society; 

BZU, Multan; Dendrochronological Lab., Federal 

Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology, 

Karachi; FC College (Charted University) Lahore; 

University of Punjab, Lahore; Environmental 

Protection Department (EPD) Pakistan; Higher 

Education Commission, Islamabad Pakistan; 

Karachi University; Ministry of Science and 

Technology, Pakistan; NIAB, Faisalabad; NIBGE, 

Faisalabad; NIFA, Peshawar; PCSIR Laboratories, 

Lahore; PFI, Peshawar; Punjab Small Industries 

Corporation and University of Agriculture 

Faisalabad. 

Career Scope 

Botany as the mother subject provides baseline to 

progress all the disciplines of plant sciences of 

conventional as well as modern era. The 

disciplines of Botany has a broad scope covering 

so many fields like education, forestry, 

horticulture, dandrochronology and climatology, 

research organizations related to agriculture, 

plant biotechnology, molecular genetics, 

phycodiversity, lichen biodiversity, plant and 

microbial genetic engineering, plant metabolic 

engineering, biopharming etc. 

Future Plans 

Establishment of Botanic Garden and Herbal 

Garden cum Biodiversity Park at GC University, 

New Campus at KSK that will have a state of the 

art laboratory for plant breeding, compositing 

unit, etc. 

BSc (Hons) 

Year-1 

Semester-I 

Course 

Code 

BOT-1101 

BOT-1101P 

Semester-II 

Course 

Code 

BOT-1201 

BOT-1201P 

Year-2 

Semester-III 

Course 

Code 

BOT-2101 

BOT-2101P 

Semester-IV 

Course 

Code 

BOT-2201 

BOT-2201P 

BOT-2202 

BOT-2202P 

Year-3 

Semester-V 

Course 

Code 

BOT-3101 

BOT-3101P 

BOT-3102 

BOT-3102P 

BOT-3103 

BOT-3103P 

Course Title 

Diversity of Plants 


Course Title 

Systematic, Anatomy 

and Development 



Course Title 

Cell Biology, Genetics 

and Evolution 



Course Title 

Biodiversity and 

Conservation 


Conservation 

Plant Physiology and 

Ecology 

Plant Physiology and 

Ecology 

Course Title 

Plant Ecology I 

Plant Ecology I 

Diversity of Vascular 

Plants 

Diversity of Vascular 

Plants 

Phycology and Bryology 

Phycology and Bryology 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

3 

1 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1



39 

Semester-V 

Course 

Code 

BOT-3104 

BOT-3104P 

BOT-3105 

BOT-3105P 

Semester-VI 

Course 

Code 

BOT-3201 

BOT-3201P 

BOT-3202 

BOT-3202P 

BOT-3203 

BOT-3203P 

BOT-3204 

BOT-3204P 

BOT-3205 

BOT-3205P 

Year-4 

Course Title 

Mycology and Plant 

Pathology 

Mycology and Plant 

Pathology 

Plant Systematics 

Plant Systematics 

Course Title 

Plant Anatomy 

Plant Anatomy 

Plant Ecology II 

Plant Ecology II 

Genetics 

Genetics 

Plant Biochemistry I 

Plant Biochemistry I 

Plant Tissue Culture 


Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

3 

1 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

3 

1 

3 

1 

* Students will select 4 courses from the following list 

subject to the availability of the faculty. 

Elective Subjects 

Course 

Code 

BOT-4203 

BOT-4203P 

BOT-4204 

BOT-4204P 

BOT-4205 

BOT-4205P 

BOT-4206 

BOT-4206P 

BOT-4207 

BOT-4207P 

BOT-4208 

BOT-4208P 

BOT-4209 

BOT-4209P 

BOT-4210 

BOT-4210P 

Course Title 

Biostatistics 

Biostatistics (Practical) 

Ethnobotany 

Ethnobotany (Practical) 

Salinity & Waterlogging 

Salinity & Waterlogging 

(Practical) 

Symbiotic Relationship 

Symbiotic Relationship 

(Practical) 

Advanced Anatomy 

Advanced Anatomy 

(Practical) 

Plant Pathology 

Plant Pathology 

(Practical) 

Bioinformatics 

Bioinformatics (Practical) 

Photophysiology 

Photophysiology 

(Practical) 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 



Semester-VII 

Course 

Code 

BOT-4101 

BOT-4101P 

BOT-4102 

BOT-4102P 

BOT-4299 

Semester-VIII 

Course 

Code 

BOT-4201 

BOT-4201P 

BOT-4202 

BOT-4202P 

BOT-4299 

Course Title 

Physiology I 

Physiology I 

Plant Biochemistry II 

Plant Biochemistry II 

Elective I 

Elective II 

Research Project / 

Internship 

Course Title 

Physiology II 

Physiology II 

Molecular Genetics 

Molecular Genetics 

Elective III 

Elective - IV 

Research Project / 

Internship 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

3 

1 

2+1 

2+1 

3 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

3 

1 

2+1 

2+1 

3 

Allied Courses 

Year 1 

Semester I 

Course 

Code 

BOT-1101 

BOT-1101P 

Semester II 

Course 

Code 

BOT-1201 

BOT-1201P 

Year 2 

Semester III 

Course 

Code 

BOT-2101 

BOT-2101P 

Course Title 



Course Title 





Course Title 





Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1

40 GC University Lahore GCU Prospectus 2011 



Year 2 

Semester IV 

Course 

Code 

BOT-2201 

BOT-2201P 

MPhil 

Year-1 

Semester-I 

Course 

Code 

BOT-7101 

BOT-7102 

BOT-7103 

Semester-II 

Course 

Code 

BOT-7201 

BOT-7202 

BOT-7203 

BOT-7204 

BOT-7205 

Year-2 

Semester-III & IV 

Course 

Code 

BOT-7499 

Course Title 


Conservation 


Conservation 

Course Title 

Applied Plant Anatomy 

Phytopathology 

Plant Breeding and 

Genetic Engineering 

Course Title 

Photo physiology of Plant 

Growth 

Ethnobotany 

Applied Ecology 

Advanced Phycology 

Molecular Biology 

Course Title 

Thesis 

Credit 

Hours 

2 

1 

Credit 

Hours 

Theory+Practical 

4 

4 

4 

Credit 

Hours 

Theory+Practical 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

Credit 

Hours 

12 

PhD 

The Department of Botany offers PhD in following 

disciplines. 

1. Applied Ecology 

2. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 

3. Diversity of Plant Form 

Semester-I 

Course 

Code 

BOT-8101 

BOT-8102 

BOT-8103 

BOT-8104 

BOT-8105 

BOT-8106 

BOT-8107 

BOT-8108 

BOT-8109 

Semester-II 

Course 

Code 

BOT 8201 

BOT-8202 

BOT-8203 

BOT-8204 

BOT-8205 

BOT-8206 

BOT-8207 

BOT-8208 

BOT-8209 

BOT-8210 

Course Title 

Field and Laboratory 

methods in Ecology 

Numerical Ecology 

Theoretical Ecology 

Plants and Energy 

Plants Water and Minerals 

Molecular Basis of 

Photosynthesis 

Phylogeny of Angiosperms 

Paleo-botany 

Ethno botany 

Course Title 

Geographic Information 

Systems in Applied Ecology 

Landscape Ecology 

Agro- Ecology 

Population and Community 

Ecology 

Soil Ecology 

Conservation Biology 

Restoration Ecology 

Growth and Development 

Respiration and Lipid 

metabolism 

Stress and Secondary 

metabolites 

Credit 

Hours 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

Credit 

Hours 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

BOT-8211 

BOT-8212 

BOT-8214 

BOT-8215 

BOT-8216 

BOT-8217 

BOT-8218 

BOT-8219 

Applied aspects of 

Plant Anatomy 

Numerical Taxonomy 


Chemotaxonomy 

Economic Utility of Algae 

Algal Anatomy and 

Biotechnology 

Plant Biotechnology 

Advanced Molecular Biology 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3



41 



Faculty 

Name 

Prof. Zaheer ud Din Khan, PhD (London) 

Dr. Ghzala Yasmeen Butt, PhD (KU), Post Doc (UK) 

Syed Tariq Rizwan, MPhil (GCUL) 

Dr. Safdar Ali Mirza, PhD (PU) 

Tanzeem Akbar Cheema, MPhil (QAU) 

Zafar Siddiqe, MPhil (GCUL) 

Memuna Ghafoor, MPhil (GCUL) 

Uzma Hanif, MPhil (GCUL) 

Hiba-tul-Momen, MPhil (GCUL) 

Mobina Ulfat, MPhil (UAF) 

Mohammad Ajaib, MPhil (GCUL) 

Sohaib Muhammad, MPhil (GCUL) 

Nadeemullah, MPhil (GCUL) 

Sara Atta, BSc Hons (GCUL) 

Designation 

Chairperson 

Associate Professor 

Assistant Professor 

Assistant Professor 

Lecturer 

Senior Curator 

Lecturer 

Lecturer 

Lecturer 

Lecturer 

Teaching Assistant 




Visiting Faculty 

Muhammad Naeem Akhtar, MSc (PU) 

Professor Emeritus 

Prof. Khalid Hamid Sheikh, PhD (London)

Faculty of Science and Technology(Department of Botany)

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