IUB Biodiversity Park - Fort Derawar

10/07/2026

09/07/2026

The Director of the Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) PARC, Muhammad Jahangir Shah, and Senior Scientific Officer Muhammad Khalid Rafique from the Honey Bee Research Institute, NARC Islamabad, visited the IUB Biodiversity Park, Fort Derawar, where they were briefed by Director Dr. Muhammad Abdullah on various ongoing research projects and activities. They engaged in discussions on the challenges and potential research opportunities for honey production in the Cholistan Desert. 🌳🐝🌴🎉

24/05/2026

21/05/2026

"International Day for Biological Diversity Celebrated at IUB"
On the directions of the Worthy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kamran, the Directorate of IUB Biodiversity Park and the Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies (CIDS) organized a special ceremony on May 22, 2026, to commemorate the International Day for Biological Diversity held at the Vice-Chancellor Secretariat under the leadership of Dean Prof. Dr. Tanveer Hussain Turabi. The event centered on the global theme, "Acting locally for global impact." The ceremony was sponsored by the Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC-IUB) and organized in collaboration with the IUB Climate Change and Environmental Protection Society, the IUB Digital and Social Media Society, and the IUB Green Youth Movement Club.The program commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome address from the organizers. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah, Director IUB Biodiversity Park, delivered a detailed presentation on the annual progress of the Biodiversity Park and the role of the Islamia University in the preservation of Biodiversity and conservation. He emphasized the importance of biodiversity in maintaining ecological balance, ensuring food security, and combating climate change. Dr. Abdullah also highlighted the growing environmental challenges caused by habitat destruction, and the unsustainable use of natural resources, with a specific focus on the Cholistan Desert ecosystem.During the interactive discussions, invited experts shared valuable insights and recommendations. Key speakers included: Muhammad Nawaz Sandheela (Chief Conservator of Forests) Muhammad Imran (Director, PCRWR) Col. Muhammad Naveed (Biodiversity Explorer) Muhammad Jahangir Shah (Director, AZRI) Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rafay (Director, IFS) Prof. Dr. Nargis Naz (Chairperson, Department of Botany) Prof. Dr. Asif Naveed Ranjha (Director BASAR & Social Work) Dr. Mushtaq Hussain (Chairman, Department of Zoology) Dr. Wajid Nasim (Director, ICCFS) Dr. Abid Rashid Gill (Director, Green Campus Program). Representatives from ORIC, QEC, and the CIDS research team also participated, encouraging students, faculty, and researchers to actively engage in preserving endangered species, protecting natural ecosystems, and supporting environmental initiatives.The Chief Guest, Dean Prof. Dr. Tanveer Hussain Turabi, concluded the event by praising the IUB Biodiversity Park and CIDS teams for organizing the impactful awareness campaign. The ceremony ended with a collective commitment to protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable development for future generations.

20/05/2026

29/03/2026

A Desert Tree Blossom
Tecomella undulata, commonly referred to as Lahura or Rohida, is a vital desert tree species highly valued for its resilience and ecological significance in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly the Cholistan deserts of Pakistan, where its population, previously in decline, is now thriving in the IUB Biodiversity Park Fort drawer Cholistan Desert. 🌳💚🌴🏜️

14/02/2026

DG EPA Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh sab, Director General, Environmental Protection Agency, Punjab, visited the IUB Biodiversity Park Fort Derawar at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, accompanied by his official officer team. Director Biodiversity Park Dr. Muhammad Abdullah briefed them on the biodiversity of the Cholistan desert and the ongoing field and research activities at the park. The IUB and EPA team decided to enhance the park's research orientation, focusing on conserving the fauna and flora of the Cholistan desert. 🌳🐝🌴🏞️💚🌸

05/02/2026

The Honourable Vice Chancellor, Engr. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kamaran, accompanied by delegates of the International Conference on Seerat-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him), visited the IUB Biodiversity Park Fort Derawar, where Dr. Muhammad Abdullah, Director of the IUB Biodiversity Park, provided a briefing on the biodiversity of the Cholistan Desert and the Park's ongoing field and research initiatives. During this visit, Engr. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Amjad, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; Prof. Dr. Sheikh Shafiq-ur-Rehman, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies; and Major (r) Tahir Majeed, representative of the Houbra Foundation International Pakistan (HFIP), were also present. The Vice Chancellor and all delegates commended the entire team of the Biodiversity Park for their exceptional conservation efforts.

30/12/2025

A delegation led by Dr. Javed Iqbal from the Department of Forestry, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Dir U, KPK, paid a visit to the IUB Biodiversity Park Fort Derawer. Director IUB Biodiversity Park Dr. Muhammad Abdullah and his team extended a warm welcome to the delegates, and Dr. Muhammad Atif Latif provided them with an overview of the ongoing projects and research initiatives at the Park, with a particular focus on the biodiversity of the Cholistan Desert. 🌳🌴🌻🎉