About

I am currently working as an Assistant Professor of Botany at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan Campus, with a strong academic and research background in Botany, Plant Ecology, Biological Invasion, Plant Anatomy, and Environmental Sciences. As a dedicated plant ecologist and anatomist, my passion lies in exploring the adaptive strategies of native flora under environmental stress conditions, particularly in arid, saline, and heterogeneous ecosystems. During my M.Phil. and Ph.D. studies at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, I conducted in-depth research on vegetation dynamics along the River Chenab, investigating ecophysiological and anatomical adaptations of native species. My work focused on understanding how these species survive and thrive in challenging environments. Over the years, I have authored more than 33 research articles in peer-reviewed W and X category journals, contributing valuable insights into plant anatomical resilience, ecological restoration, and phytoremediation. My research approach combines plant structural analysis, environmental data interpretation, and field-based ecological assessment, which allows me to draw meaningful conclusions for sustainable land use and conservation. I have always believed that science must serve society. Therefore, I aim to continue developing low-cost, practical ecological solutions, particularly in the areas of soil remediation, native vegetation restoration, and climate-resilient agriculture. Looking forward, I am committed to strengthening research excellence at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur by mentoring future scientists, building interdisciplinary collaborations, and translating research into meaningful impact. I envision contributing to a greener, more sustainable Pakistan, where scientific innovation supports both agricultural productivity and environmental integrity.

Research Interests

1. Hameed, M., Fatima, S., Shah, S.M.R., Ahmad, F., Ashraf, M., GHULAM-NABI, M.A.R.Y.A.M., Ahmad, M.S.A., Ahmad, I. and Iqbal, U. (2020). Ultrastructural response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines to potential allelopathy of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. leaf extract. Turkish Journal of Botany, 44(5), 509-525. Impact Factor (1.01); Category (X).
2. Iqbal, U., Hameed, M., & Ahmad, F. (2021). Water conservation strategies through anatomical traits in the endangered arid zone species Salvadora oleoides Decne. Turkish Journal of Botany, 45(2), 140-157. Impact Factor (1.489); Category (X).
3. Iqbal, U., Hameed, M., Ahmad, F., Aqeel Ahmad, M. S., & Ashraf, M. (2021). Adaptive strategies for ecological fitness in Calotropis procera (Aiton) WT Aiton. Arid Land and Research Management, 1-27. Impact Factor (1.696); Category (X).
4. Iqbal, U., Hameed, M., Ahmad, F., Ahmad, M. S. A., Ashraf, M., Kaleem, M., ... & Irshad, M. (2022). Contribution of structural and functional modifications to wide distribution of Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. Flora, 286, 151973. Impact Factor (2.088); Category (W).
5. Iqbal, U., Hameed, M., Ahmad, F., Ahmad, M. S. A., & Ashraf, M. (2022). Unraveling the survival potential of a desert halophyte Salvadora oleoides Decne. across heterogenic environments. Trees-structure and function, 1-20. Germany. Impact Factor (2.529); Category (W).
6. Naz, N., Fatima, S., Hameed, M., Ahmad, F., Ahmad, M.S.A., Ashraf, M., Shahid, H., Iqbal, U., Kaleem, M., Shah, S.M.R. and Ahmad, I., 2022. Modulation in Plant Micro-structures Through Soil Physicochemical Properties Determines Survival of Salsola imbricata Forssk. in Hypersaline Environments. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, pp.1-21. Impact Factor (3. 872); Category (W).
7. Sarwar, Y., Asghar, A., Hameed, M., Fatima, S., Ahmad, F., Ahmad, M.S.A., Ashraf, M., Shah, S.M.R., Basharat, S., Iqbal, U. and Irshad, M., 2022. Structural responses of differentially adapted Cenchrus setigerus Vahl ecotypes to water deficit. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 194, p.104746. Impact Factor (5. 545); Category (W).
8. Hameed, M., Fatima, S., Ahmad, F., Zafar, S.N., Ahmad, M.S.A., Iqbal, U., Bibi, S. and Ahmad, I., 2022. Anatomical modifications in some Bambusa Schreb. species to combat ecological constraints. International Journal of Applied and Experimental Biology, 1(1), pp.21-31.
9. Kaleem, M., Shabir, F., Hussain, I., Hameed, M., Ahmad, M.S.A., Mehmood, A., Ashfaq, W., Riaz, S., Afzaal, Z., Maqsood, M.F. and Iqbal, U., (2022). Alleviation of cadmium toxicity in Zea mays L. through up-regulation of growth, antioxidant defense system and organic osmolytes under calcium supplementation. Plos one, 17(6), p.e0269162. Impact Factor (3. 752); Category (W).
10. Iqbal, U., Hameed, M., Ahmad, F., Ahmad, M. S. A., Naz, N., Ashraf, M., & Kaleem, M. (2023). Modulation of structural and functional traits in facultative halophyte Salvadora oleoides Decne. For adaptability under hyper-arid and saline environments. Journal of Arid Environments, 213, 104965. Impact Factor (2. 759); Category (W).
11. Nawaz, H., Asghar, N., Ali, A., Ameer, A., Shehzad, M.A., Nawaz, F., Mehmood, A., Iqbal, M.S., Iqbal, U., Kaleem, M. and Khan, A., (2023). Optimization of Citric Acid and EDTA Levels Under Ni Stress Using Rapeseed Brassica napus L. for Phytoremediation. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 234(4), p.244 Impact Factor (2. 984); Category (W).
12. Iqbal, U., Hameed, M., Ahmad, F., Aqeel Ahmad, M. S., Ashraf, M. (2023)" Fate of rubber bush (Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T.Aiton) in adversary environment modulated by microstructural and functional attributes." Journal of Arid Land. 1-24. Impact Factor (3.0); Category (X).
13. Iqbal, U., Hameed, M., Ahmad, F. (2023). Structural and functional traits underlying the capacity of Calotropis procera to face different stress conditions. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 203, 107992. Impact Factor (6.5); Category (W).
14. Ameer, A., Ahmad, F., Asghar, N., Hameed, M., Ahmad, K.S., Mehmood, A., Nawaz, F., Shehzad, M.A., Mumtaz, S., Kaleem, M., Iqbal, U. (2023). Aridity-driven changes in structural and physiological characteristics of Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) from different ecozones of Punjab Pakistan. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants, pp.1-20. Impact Factor (3.5); Category (W).
15. Iqbal, U., Rehman, F.U., Aslam, M.U., Gul, M.F., Farooq, U., Ameer, A., Asghar, N., Mehmood, A. and Ahmad, K.S. (2023). Survival tactics of an endangered species Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal to arid environments. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(11), 1363. Impact Factor (3.0); Category (W).
16. Iqbal, U., Ali, A., Daad, A., Aslam, M. U., Rehman, F. U., Farooq, U., Gul, M. F. (2023). Unraveling the defensive strategies of camel thorn Alhagi maurorum medik. For thriving in arid and semi-arid environments. Journal of Arid Environments, 219, 105076. Impact Factor (2.7); Category (W).
17. Iqbal, U., Usman, Z., Azam, A., Abbas, H., Mehmood, A. and Ahmad, K.S., (2023). Invasive success of star weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) through alteration in structural and functional peculiarities. PeerJ, 11, p.e16609. Impact Factor (3.06); Category (W).
18. Noreen, S., Saleem, S., Iqbal, U., Mahmood, S., Akhter, M.S., Akbar, N., El-Sheikh, M. and Kaushik, P., (2023). Moringa olifera leaf extract increases physio-biochemical properties, growth and yield of Pisum sativum grown under salinity stress. Journal of King Saud University-Science, p.103056. Impact Factor (3.80); Category (W).
19. Iqbal, U., Farooq, U., Asghar, N., Ahmad, K. S., Gul, M. F., Aslam, M. U., Rehman, F. U. (2024). Phenotypic plasticity in rubber bush (Calotropis procera) along altitudinal gradient. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 218, 105616. Impact Factor (5.70); Category (W).
20. Akram, M., Fakhar, T., Naz, N., Akram, S., Mumtaz, S., Anwar, I., Iqbal, U., Fuzail, M., Kiran, H., Yousaf, A. and Shoaib, M., Effect of Exogenically Applied Gibberellic Acid on Morpho-Anatomical Characteristics of Chenopodium quinoa under Salt Stress. Journal of Xi’an Shiyou University, Natural Science Edition. Impact Factor (1.0); Category (X).
21. Irshad, M., Hameed, M., Iqbal, U., Kaleem, M., Ameer, A., Asghar, N., Mahmoud, E.A., Ullah, F., Moussa, I.M., Al-Yafrasi, M. and Elansary, H.O., 2024. Elevation-driven modifications in tissue architecture and physiobiochemical traits of Panicum antidotale Retz. in the Pothohar Plateau, Pakistan. Plant Stress, 11, p.100430. Impact Factor (5.0); Category (X).
22. Iqbal, U., Daad, A., Ali, A., Gul, M. F., Aslam, M. U., Rehman, F. U., & Farooq, U. (2024). Surviving the Desert's Grasp: Decipherment Phreatophyte Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. Adaptive Strategies for Arid Resilience. Plant Science, 112201. Impact Factor (4.4); Category (W).
23. Iqbal, U., Aslam, M. U., Gul, M. F., Rehman, F. U., Farooq, U., Daad, A., Ali, A. (2024). Life-History Strategy Shifts in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Winter Cherry) in the Face of Combined Environmental Stresses. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 1-25. Impact Factor (2.6); Category (W).
24. Makhdum, M.I., Abid, M., Hameed, R., Balooch, S., Noreen, S., Akhter, M.S., Iqbal, U., Abbas, A., Farah, M.A. and Singh, R., 2024. Influence of phosphorous fertilizer on mineral nutrition and yield attributes of wheat: Acquisition with PSTOL1 gene for arid environment. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 36(11), p.103485. Impact Factor (3.7); Category (W).
25. Kaleem, M., Hameed, M., Ahmad, M.S.A., Ahmad, F., Iqbal, U., Asghar, N., Ameer, A., Mehmood, A., Shehzadi, N., Chishti, M.S. and Hashem, A., 2024. Role of leaf micro-structural modifications in modulation of growth and photosynthetic performance of aquatic halophyte Fimbristylis complanata (Retz.) under temporal salinity regimes. Scientific Reports, 14(1), p.26442. Impact Factor (3.8); Category (W).
26. Iqbal, U., Azam, A., Ahmad, K.S., Mumtaz, S., Mehmood, A., Naz, N., Usman, Z., Abbas, H. and Akram, M., 2024. Unveiling the ecological dominance of button mangrove (Conocarpus erectus L.) through microstructural and functional traits modifications across heterogenic environmental conditions. Botanical Studies, 65(1), p.36. Impact Factor (4.1); Category (W).
27. Iqbal, U., Gul, M.F., Aslam, M.U., Rehman, F.U. and Farooq, U., 2025. Do structural and functional traits modulation determine the ecological fate of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) under variable pedospheric and atmospheric conditions?. South African Journal of Botany, 177, pp.68-87. Impact Factor (2.7); Category (W).
28. Iqbal, U., Abid, S., Sharif, M., Rafiq, S., Wahab, A., Ahmad, M. and Yousuf, M., 2025. Thriving in extremes: Adaptability potential of desert cotton Aerva javanica to hyper-arid saline conditions. Journal of Arid Environments, 227, p.105321. Impact Factor (2.6); Category (W).
29. Iqbal, U., Arif, M.S., Sharif, M., Wahab, A., Ahmad, M., Yousuf, M., Rafiq, S. and Abid, S., 2025. Phytoremediation Capacity of Saltwort (Salsola imbricata Forssk.) Determined by Tissue Organization and Physio-biochemical traits under Arid Saline Environments. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 236(3), p.203. Impact Factor (3.8); Category (W).
30. Azam, A., Iqbal, U., Usman, Z., Sharif, M., Gul, M.F., Naz, N., Nawaz, I. and Ahmad, F., 2025. Biomonitoring and phytoremediation potential of Conocarpus erectus (Buttonwood) for mitigating air pollution from highway traffic. Chemosphere, 375, p.144259. Impact Factor (8.1); Category (W).
31. Abid, H., Mahroof, S., Ahmad, K.S., Sadia, S., Iqbal, U., Mehmood, A., Shehzad, M.A., Basit, A., Tahir, M.M., Awan, U.A. and Almutairi, K.F., 2025. Harnessing Native Plants for Sustainable Heavy Metal Phytoremediation in Crushing Industry Soils of Muzaffarabad. Environmental Technology & Innovation, p.104141. Impact Factor (6.7); Category (W).
32. Iqbal, U., Ahmad, M., Sharif, M., Wahab, A., Yousuf, M., Rafiq, S. and Abid, S., 2025. Phenotypic Characterization and Adaptability of Wild Sugarcane to Diverse Pedospheric and Atmospheric Conditions. Tropical Plant Biology, 18(1), p.46. Impact Factor (1.8); Category (W).
33. Iqbal, U., Wahab, A., Rafiq, S. et al. Structural Traits Driving Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Aggressive Spread and Ecosystem Disruption. Water Air Soil Pollut 236, 413 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08045-4. Impact Factor (3.8); Category (W).

Awards and Honors

• An appreciation letter was awarded by Vice Chancellor (Pro. Dr. Anas Qureshi) in honour of the completion of a Ph.D. degree (Botany) in three years at the Agriculture University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
• I was awarded a shield (2^nd position) by Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan (S.I.) Vice Chancellor in the annual flower exhibition held at the Agriculture University, Faisalabad-Pakistan.