KARACHI: Country’s renowned molecular biologist Dr Syed Qasim Mehdi died in Lahore on Wedneday after a protracted illness.He was 75.

Dr Qasim Mehdi had a significant role in the initiation of the human genome diversity project at the Stanford University. He had an outstanding academic profile as he obtained basic degree from Lucknow University before completing his master’s from MIT and doctorate from Oxford.

A known personality in the academic and scientific circles of Pakistan and abroad, Dr Mehdi was currently serving as chairman of the Centre for Human Genetics at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) and a visiting professor at Karachi University. He also served a number of bodies and commission in the country dealing with higher education and other scientific research. Dr Qasim Mehdi was a nephew of Raja of Mehmoodabad, a front line personality of the Pakistan movement.

Rich tributes were paid to the illustrious scientist at a memorial meeting at SIUT on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2016