Department of Earth Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad

26/08/2026

The students of the Department of Earth Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, arranged a beautiful and inspiring event dedicated to the life and teachings of Rasulullah ﷺ.
The program included heartfelt *Tilawat-e-Quran, Naat*, and inspiring incidents from the blessed life of *Rasulullah ﷺ*, presented by the students. The *Chairperson of the Department, Professor Dr. Shazia Naseem*, also delivered an inspiring speech highlighting various beautiful incidents and lessons from the life of Rasulullah ﷺ, followed by a thoughtful discussion among the participants.

The event was beautifully organized by:
Aftab,
Muhammad Husnain,
Sana Murad
Muhammad Usama
Zoha Mukhtiar
Hosted by:
Sobia Soday Ali
and
Areeba Tabassum
It was a truly spiritually uplifting gathering filled with love, respect, and remembrance of our beloved **Rasulullah ﷺ**. May Allah Almighty bless us with the ability to follow his noble teachings and Sunnah. Ameen. 🤍🌸

22/08/2026

Prof. Dr. Shazia Naseem, Chairperson Department of Earth Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, congratulates Mr. Syed Waqas Haider on the successful defense of his PhD thesis titled,
“Evaluation of Reservoir and Source Rock Potential of Early Jurassic Datta Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan”.
His research focused on the reservoir characteristics, source-rock potential, organic geochemistry, thermal maturity modeling and oil-source correlations of the Datta Formation.
The research was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Matloob Hussain and Dr. Samina Jahandad (General Manager, Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan) as co-supervisor.
We acknowledge the external examiners, Dr. Rahmat Ali Gakhar from OGDCL, and Retired Prof. Dr. Gulraiz Akhter, Department of Earth Sciences, QAU, for their academic guidance.

22/08/2026

Prof. Dr. Shazia Naseem, Chairperson Department of Earth Sciences proudly congratulates Dr. Abdul Bari on the successful defense of his PhD research thesis!

Dr. Abdul Bari successfully presented and defended his doctoral research titled “Sedimentology and Provenance Analysis of Khewra Sandstone, Salt Range, Pakistan.”

His research was conducted under the expert supervision of Dr. Shahid Iqbal, whose invaluable guidance, mentorship, and continuous support were instrumental throughout this academic journey.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the respected external examiners, Dr. Shahina Tariq and Dr. Rahmat Ali Gakkhar, for their valuable evaluation, insightful comments, and academic contributions to the successful completion of this research.

An international student from Afghanistan, Dr. Abdul Bari pursued his PhD at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, under the prestigious HEC Pakistan Allama Iqbal Scholarship Program. His achievement reflects not only academic excellence but also the importance of international educational collaboration and scholarly exchange.

His research provides an integrated understanding of the sedimentology, provenance, depositional environment, paleoclimate, paleoweathering, and diagenetic evolution of the Early Cambrian Khewra Sandstone of the Salt Range. The study integrates field investigations, sedimentary facies analysis, petrography, XRD, SEM–EDX, and whole-rock geochemistry to reconstruct the geological history and evaluate factors controlling the reservoir characteristics of this important sandstone succession.

The Department of Earth Sciences extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Abdul Bari on this remarkable academic milestone and wishes him continued success and excellence in his future research, teaching, and professional career.

👏 Congratulations, Dr. Abdul Bari! May this achievement mark the beginning of many more contributions to the field of Earth Sciences.

21/08/2026

A community building initiative.

Pakistan is home to over 25 million out-of-school children.
In 2021, two QAU students decided that number wasn't going to stay just a statistic.
That year, Rehan Yousafzai and Amna Nasir began teaching out-of-school children outside the Central Library at Quaid-i-Azam University — just a handful of kids with a belief that every child deserves a chance to learn.

That was the beginning of Quaidian Community Service School (QCSS), the initiative behind Quaidian Tutors.

What started outside a library grew into a community of 100+ students, all receiving free lessons, books, and stationery. The initiative eventually moved into the History Department building, where it operated for a year with the support of Dr. Tanveer Anjum, Dr. Idrees, and Dr. Ilhan Niaz.

In 2024, the initiative moved to Geophysics Department, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Shazia Naseem.
During that time, Prof. Dr. Mumtaz M. Shah continuously supported this initiative as a chairperson ES.

Mr. Rehan and his dedicated volunteer team — including Husun Bano, Shoaib, and many others, kept teaching for another year. Their dedication is truly inspiring.

Their commitment has built:

Out-of-school children were prepared and inducted into formal schools, with QCSS covering their monthly stationery and fees

Matric and Intermediate students were coached for their board exams, Alhumdulillah, many are now enrolled in formal universities

Monthly distribution of books and stationery to every enrolled student.

Every child QCSS has placed in a formal school is learning in a classroom that once didn't exist for them.

The impact didn't stop with the students. Several of the QAU volunteer students, who once taught outside a library are now pursuing higher education on prestigious international scholarships, and working with national and international organizations.

Teaching does not only changed the children but it changed the teachers too.

The best gift that one can give to a next generation is an education. Let’s work together towards a better future and a community building.

17/08/2026

4th NSPP Public Policy Conference on Rare Earth minerals in Pakistan: Opportunities and Challenges is being held on 17-18 August, 2026 to discuss policy framework in the order to provide guidelines to various agencies for better exploration strategies and related matters.
In a panel discussion, Prof. Mumtaz Shah delibrated on the issue "Harnessing modern technology for Rare Earth Minerals: A policy and strategic framework, emphasizing key points that include; Trained Human Resource development, Data-driven mineral exploration, AI & ML in mineral exploration, Geological potential to resource intelligence, Modern technology for better exploration economics and development of skills for the next generation.
A proud moment for the department of Earth Sciences.

17/08/2026

Strengthening the Enduring Brotherhood of Pakistan and Türkiye 🇵🇰🤝🇹🇷
Prof. Dr. Shazia Naseem, Chairperson, Department of Earth Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), warmly welcomed officials from the Embassy of Türkiye on 17 August 2026, in a meeting that reflected the deep-rooted and historic brotherhood between Pakistan and Türkiye.
The bond between the two nations is founded on a long history of mutual respect, solidarity, and people-to-people connections, further strengthened by shared values and unwavering support for one another over the decades. This enduring friendship continues to evolve through meaningful cooperation in education, science, research, and academic exchange.
During the meeting, opportunities for collaboration with various universities in Türkiye were discussed, with particular emphasis on creating avenues for faculty and student exchanges, joint research, academic partnerships, and knowledge sharing. Such initiatives have the potential to build stronger institutional linkages and provide new opportunities for the next generation of scholars and researchers.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from Prof. Dr. Shazia Naseem, accompanied by positive remarks and a shared commitment to transforming the spirit of Pakistan–Türkiye friendship into lasting academic and scientific collaboration.
Together, Pakistan and Türkiye continue to turn their historic brotherhood into a shared vision for a brighter future through education, knowledge, and innovation.

13/08/2026

11/08/2026

On 7th August, students from Earth Science Department of QAU undertaking their internship at OGDCL embarked on a field trip to Fateh Jang to gain practical, hands-on experience in seismic data acquisition, under the guidance of instructor Mr. Osama Mehmood.

An enriching opportunity to bridge classroom learning with practical field experience and strengthen their understanding about the field.