By Our Correspondent
MANSEHRA: A three-day international training workshop titled “Capacity Building in Modern Herbarium Techniques: Taxonomy and Biodiversity Documentation in Climate Change Research” has commenced at Hazara University, Mansehra.
The event is being organized by the Department of Botany with financial support from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad.
The workshop aims to strengthen the professional skills of researchers, teachers, and students in modern herbarium techniques while promoting awareness of advanced methods for plant identification, biodiversity conservation, and climate change-related research.
The chief guest at the opening session was Professor Dr. Muhammad Qaiser, Editor-in-Chief of the Pakistan Journal of Botany and former Director of the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation at Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur.
The event was also attended by Hazara University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Ghulam Mujtaba, former Registrar Muqarrab Shah, Dr. Sajjad from HEC, Dean of Botany Professor Dr. Inam-ul-Haq, Dr. Alia Gul, Jan Alam, and a large number of scholars, experts, faculty members, and students.
Addressing the participants, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Ikramullah Khan emphasized the importance of modern herbarium techniques in advancing scientific research and conserving biodiversity.
He said the workshop provides a valuable platform for national and international experts to exchange knowledge, strengthen research collaboration, and enhance the quality of botanical research and herbarium standards in Pakistan.
Professor Dr. Ikramullah Khan also praised Associate Professor Dr. Alia Gul, Chief Organizer of the workshop, for her dedication and leadership in successfully organizing the international event. He noted that her professional expertise, hard work, and effective teamwork had brought together experts from across the country and abroad on a common research platform.
The three-day workshop is fostering academic collaboration, experience-sharing, and the promotion of modern research trends among participants.
Experts believe the initiative will contribute significantly to improving herbarium management, digitization practices, and botanical research standards, further supporting biodiversity conservation and scientific advancement in Pakistan.
