OBITUARY
- Dr. Abdul Kafi
(15 July 1929 to 19 May 2009)
Abdul Ghaffar*
OBITUARY: Dr. Abdul Kafi, an eminent Mycologist & Plant Pathologist died on 19 May, 2009 due to lungs infection. May God Almighty shower His choicest blessings upon the departed soul and may his soul rest in peace in heaven. May God Almighty also give enough strength to members of his family and friends to bear the loss.
Dr. Abdul Kafi s/o Mr. Abdul Ghani was
born on 15 January 1929 at Badayun, India. He received his early
education at Lucknow in India. He obtained the B.Sc degree in 1946 from
Lucknow Christian College, M.Sc in 1948 from Muslim University Aligarh
and Ph.D in 1960 in Botany Plant Pathology from the University of
Exeter, England for his work on “Studies on certain graminicolous
species of Helminthosporium occurring in tropical and subtropical
areas”. Dr. Kafi has more than 37 years experience of research and
extension work in the field of Mycology & Plant Pathology. Dr. Kafi
started his career as Mycologist/Plant Pathologist in the Department of
Plant Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Pakistan,
Karachi in 1952 and rose to the post of Plant Protection Advisor &
Director General. Dr. Kafi retired on 15 July 1989.
Dr. Abdul Kafi was much more involved in
the maintenance of National Mycological Herbarium, enforcement of Plant
Quarantine Rules & Regulations, interception of exotic pests and
diseases, testing and treatment of incoming plant material, survey of
potential locust breeding areas, large scale control measures by ground
and aerial spray for the control of locusts and other pests and
diseases.
Dr. Abdul Kafi has travelled in many
countries of the world by representing Pakistan in various meetings,
conferences seminars and symposia particularly in the field of Plant
Pathology, Plant Quarantine and locusts. He has also been involved in
the implementation of Agriculture Pesticide Ordinance 1971 and advising
the central Government in the control of pests and diseases.
For a period of time Dr. Kafi remained
university examiner, member of selection committee of the University of
Karachi including National Nematological Research Institute and Jamshoro
Agricultural Research University for MSc, M Phil and Ph D degrees in
Botany, Nematology and Plant Pathology. He was also the member of
selection committee for the appointment of lecturers and Assistant
Professors in the University of Karachi.
*Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi Pakistan.