Dr. Anila Zafar
Professor Chairperson (Environmental Sciences)
Department of Environmental Sciences , Faculty of Life Sciences & Informatics

anila.zafar@buitms.edu.pk
Extension No: 613

Qualification

Postdoctoral (2022)
Molecular Biology
University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Ph.D. (2016)
Molecular Biology
University of the Punjab, Pakistan
Master's (2010)
Microbiology
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Pakistan
Bachelor's (2008)
Biotechnology
Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences, Pakistan

Teaching Courses

  • Bacterial Genetics
  • Introduction to Genetic Engineering
  • Advances in Molecular Microbiology
  • Industrial Microbiology

Research Interest

  • 1) Biocontrol of fungal phytopathogens using indigenous microbes
  • 2) using RNAi to determine the outcome of host-pathogen interactions
  • 3) Use of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to introduce gene(s) in potato plants

Academic & Social Links

I am Dr. Anila Ali, Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Environmental Sciences at BUITEMS, Quetta. With over 18 years of academic, research, and leadership experience, I specialize in environmental health, climate change, public health, and psychology. I hold a Ph.D. in Environmental Health and Safety (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia), an MS in Environmental Management and Policies (BUITEMS), and a Gold Medal in Psychology (University of Balochistan). My research focuses on environmental risks, climate resilience, and human well-being, with several Best Paper Awards at international conferences in Malaysia. I have published widely on noise pollution, climate impacts, and urban sustainability, and currently serve as Co-PI of a Green Climate Fund–HEC project (KnowTex). Alongside teaching, I actively engage in policy dialogues, capacity building, and youth empowerment initiatives, aiming to strengthen climate resilience and sustainable development in Balochistan.

Publications

Multiple Transgenic Strategies Positively Regulate Cold-Induced Sweetening in Low Temperature Stored Potato Tubers
Nida Toufiq, Olawale Samuel Adeyinka, Anwar Khan, Shazia Shafique, Nusrat Jahan, Muhammad Umar Bhatti, Rida Khalid, Ayman Naeem, Qamar Abbas, Sobiya Shafique, Bushra Tabassum (2025) Potato Research vol. 68 no. 1 pp. 69-88
Unveiling the Antistatic, Anticancer and Antibacterial Properties of Boron Nitride and Ionic Liquid Blended Polyurethane Elastomer Films
Aroosa Farooq, Musammir Khan, Samra Farooq, Azhar Mahmood, Aneela Javed, Aamra Imtiaz, Anwar Khan, Khadija Munawar (2025) Materials Chemistry and Physics vol. - no. - pp. 131413
Efficacy of arginine kinase as a promising RNAi target in Aphis gossypii genome as revealed through aphid bioassay on field-grown transgenic cotton plants
Iqra Yousaf, Bushra Tabassum, Basit Jabbar, Muhammad Arslan Amjad, Uzma Qaisar, Anwar Khan, Rida Khalid, Olawale Samuel Adeyinka, Idrees Ahmad Nasir (2024) Journal of Plant Protection Research vol. - no. - pp. 242-252-242-252
GC‐MS Assisted Determination of 26 Compounds in Phlomis Stewartii Extract Exhibiting Antioxidant, Antifungal, and Antibacterial Properties
Aroosa Farooq, Samar Ali, Hamid Ullah, Anwar Khan, Faheem Nawaz, Samra Farooq, Aziza Sarwar, Saqib Ali, Dilfaraz Khan, Riffat Ullah, Shazia Iqbal (2024) Chemistry & Biodiversity vol. 21 no. 12 pp. e202401068
The Concept of Chloroplast Transformation; Its Relevance Towards Food Security
Bushra Tabassum, Iqra Yousaf, Olawale Samuel Adeyinka, Rida Khalid, Anwar Khan (2024) Advancements in Life Sciences vol. 11 no. 1 pp. 28-39
View All

Work Experience

February 2018 to Date
Assistant Professor at Microbiology
Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences
January 2017 to January 2018
Assistant Professor at Genetics
Hazara University
October 2014 to October 2015
Visiting scholar at Plant Pathology
Ohio State University
February 2010 to November 2013
Microbiologist at Research and development
Auriga Chemical Enterprises

Projects

Whole genome sequencing of biocontrol bacteria
GetGenome Pakistan, International , Non-Funded, 2024, Completed
The complete genome of a biocontrol bacterium was sequenced under the GetGenome Pakistan project in ...
1. The development and of transgenic potato lines tolerant to fungi and viruses
HEC, National , Funded , 2018, Completed
Transgenic potato lines were developed that are resistant to fungi and potato viruses, such as PVX a...
2. The development and commercialization of a broad spectrum bio-formulated fungicide
HEC, National , Funded , 2018, Completed
A biological fungicide has been developed that is effective against a broad spectrum of fungi.
3. Complete genome sequence of PVX isolate of Pakistan
HEC, National , Funded , 2017, Completed
The genome of Potato Virus X (PVX) was cloned and sequenced in this HEC-funded project.