KARACHI: Noted botanist, researcher and former vice chancellor of Karachi University (KU) Prof Emeritus Syed Irtafaq Ali passed away on Thursday night after a brief illness. He was 91.
His funeral prayers were offered at Masjid-i-Ibrahim on Friday and later he was buried in the KU graveyard.
He has left behind a widow and three daughters.
Prof Ali served as the tenth vice chancellor of KU from 1990 till 1994.
“He was a renowned top-ranking (plant) taxonomist in the region and considered an authority on the plants of Southeast Asia in general and Pakistan in particular,” said former KU VC Prof Muhammad Qaiser, also Prof Ali’s student.
One of Prof Ali’s greatest contributions as researcher was The Flora of Pakistan — the most comprehensive and authentic scientific work ever on Pakistan’s flora. Initiated over four decades ago and completed in 2020, the book has 224 volumes containing details of over 6,000 indigenous and commonly cultivated plants.
“It was his brainchild and couldn’t have been possible without his deep involvement till its completion last year,” said Prof Qaiser, adding that Prof Ali was also the co-editor of The Flora of Pakistan.
Initially, he edited the book with Prof Nasir who was based in Rawalpindi and afterwards with Prof Qaiser.
“He was humble, polite, helpful and well-disciplined. He believed in teamwork and that’s the quality which helped us complete the book.”
Born in Lucknow, India, in 1930, Prof Ali completed his matriculation from Allahabad in 1946.
In 1950 he received his Bachelor of Science degree and Masters degree in botany in 1952 from the Allahabad University and later migrated to Pakistan.
He completed his PhD in botany in 1958 and DSc in 1979 from the University of London.
He also worked as professor of botany at the University of Tripoli, Libya from 1972 to 1976.
He was also the pioneer and co-editor of Flora of Libya.
The distinguished professor joined KU in 1958 as lecturer at its botany department and later served as its chairman. He continued to work at KU’s Plant Conservation Centre till his death.
The professor also served as the director general of Dr A.Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and the dean of KU’s science faculty (1981 to 1990).
For his contribution, Prof Ali was conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 1988 and honoured with emeritus status in 2011.
He has published a large number of research papers in journals of national and international repute and wrote four books.
KU acting Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Mahmood Iraqi and former KU VC Prof Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui have expressed deep sorrow over Prof Ali’s death.
Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021
